Microsoft on Tuesday announced the launch of a new cloud-based Azure App service which will let web developers develop and run cross-device applications in one single place.
“App Service is an integrated solution that streamlines development while enabling easy integration with on-premises and SaaS systems while providing the ability to quickly automate business processes,” Bill Staples, corporate vice president, app platform, Microsoft Azure, said announcing the new service.
Azure App Service ties together Azure Websites, Azure Mobile Services and BizTalk Services into a single service with a common app hosting, runtime and extensibility model.
As claimed by the Redmond, the new service is aimed at enabling developers to create one app based on the Azure cloud platform which can be rolled out to a variety of platforms. This will as a result eliminate the need for developers to create new versions of an app for different devices and operating systems, and will result in lowering app development costs for consumer and commercial use.
Using the Azure App Service developers will be able to create apps that will work on a number of different devices including PCs, tablets as well as smartphones and software platforms including Windows Phone, Android and iOS.
BlackBerry’s mobile platforms are not supported. The service includes app types including, web apps, mobile apps, logic apps, and API apps. In addition, the service also features new tools for developers to develop, deploy, and scale Web and mobile apps.
As far as pricing of the new service is concerned, App Service pricing has been kept same as existing Azure Websites pricing, offering new capabilities from Mobile, Logic, and API apps at no extra cost.
App Service is generally available, with the Mobile, Logic, and API app types still in public preview. Developers can also sign up for a free trial at: http://tryappservice.azure.com.
In related news, Microsoft has announced a new Azure for Student Developers program which offers high school and university students with free access to Azure services.
