Microsoft's Open Source Cloud

7 months ago Microsoft took their first step into the arena of "cloud computing" with the release of Windows Azure. Azure is a cloud platform that allows users to access Microsoft services from a remote location using the internet. Now, 7 months later Microsoft has taken another step towards open-source standards, releasing SDK's and Developer kits aimed at developers wanting to create for the Windows Azure platform. Microsoft believes that by allowing developers to "create on a cloud" businesses and consumers will be able to take full advantage of what the cloud computing has to offer. The 4 main foundational elements Microsoft is working with developers to create are Developer Choice, Data Portability, Standards, and Ease of Migration and Deployment.
Microsoft is working hard to allow the use of multiple languages to write code that will run on the Windows Azure platform. They have also spoken of the ability to incorporate features and services of Azure with other current cloud platforms.
By allowing developers to write their programs in different languages it makes the Azure platform much more appealing to business customers looking for a way to move into cloud computing without having to sacrifice their internal programs and systems. The ability to share new technologies and applications in an open environment is much more effective and efficient than the old, closed system that relied on proprietary software that only could be changed through patches and upgrades, rather then through a seamless cloud of information.
I think Microsoft has the right idea, Google has done it with their Android platform, Apple has slightly done it with their iOS SDKs so it's only right that the elephant in the room step up to the open-source plate.