Public Preview: Azure SQL Database Elastic Database Basic and Premium tiers

Elastic databases support SaaS applications that have many databases and unpredictable database resource demands. Now you can use the flexibility of elastic databases to support explosive growth and competitive SaaS business models. Instead of overprovisioning databases to meet peak demand, you can combine elastic databases in a pool where a large number of them leverage the same resources, all within a budget that you control. This can be much more efficient than dedicating resources to each database individually—and that can mean cost savings.Now in public preview along with the Standard tier, the Basic tier enables small, less demanding databases to be combined in a pool. The Premium tier allows larger, more demanding databases to be pooled. The preview release of the Basic and Premium tiers support up to 50 and 200 databases, respectively, and we have increased the maximum databases per pool for the Standard tier from 100 to 200 databases.Through October 31, 2015, regions other than South Central US have one promotional rate for Basic and Premium Elastic Database tiers. Regional rates will be effective starting November 1, 2015.For more information about elastic databases, please visit the Tame explosive growth with elastic databases documentation page. For more information, please visit the SQL Database page.