Jean Paoli, general manager Interoperability at Microsoft, underscored the importance of the news this way, "PHP developers find the Windows Azure platform compelling, Microsoft's decision to contribute PHP-based Windows Azure components to Zend Framework helps demonstrate Microsoft's commitment to openness and interoperability by providing greater choice and opportunity for Microsoft customers and partners."
This news is also very well aligned with Windows Azure Interoperability approach www.windowsazure.com/interoperability as well as the overall interoperability effort Microsoft is conducting around PHP (see and ) This particular project started last year when we announced the Windows Azure SDK for PHP CTP release and upcoming support in Zend Framework.
Additional resources available for developers include the Windows Azure SDK for PHP, which is already prepackaged in Windows Azure tools for Eclipse, and the Simple Cloud API.