The roadmap of moving Windows Azure from community technology preview (CTP) to released product has been announced. For your planning purposes, these are the key stages of the transition:

1.At PDC 2009 on November 17, 2009, a number of new features in Windows Azure will be made available for the first time. The CTP will remain open through December 31, allowing you to experiment with the full feature platform and to give us any final feedback.

2.Beginning January 2010, new customers will have to sign up for an offer to access services on the Windows Azure platform. Usage during the month of January will be at no charge so you can see your exact usage while still enjoying free service.

3.On February 1, 2010, we will begin charging customers for using the Windows Azure platform.

Making the transition in these three steps accomplishes a few goals. First, it gives you a chance to explore our full feature set for free. Second, it allows our team time to get your feedback on the new features and address any issues that arise. Finally, it lets you preview exactly how billing will work before you need to start paying.

For more information, see Windows Azure Platform Launch Update.