Microsoft's Amazon-like Azure public cloud is four months away from going live. The company confirmed Tuesday the widely held supposition that Azure would go commercial at its Professional Developers Conference in mid-November. Microsoft also deigned to start explaining what it's going to cost developers to use it after November 17. Until then the technical preview will continue to be free to all comers. Azure will be available on a consumption basis, a subscription basis, and as volume licenses integrated into existing agreements with Microsoft.

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