Microsoft’s Azure Services Platform – ASP lets customers have their data centre applications run in Microsoft data centres. The company joins Amazon and Google in offering cloud computing services and cites IDC, which says cloud computing will grow 16 percent a year through to 2012. Cloud computing helps users buy less storage, meaning fewer and larger storage buyers. However, Microsoft seems to have forgotten to register “Windows Azure”. Searches on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database run throughout Monday failed to find “Windows Azure” or “Azure Services Platform” as registered trademarks. Microsoft’s spokeswoman said that the company did not forget to register “Windows Azure” and that it’s the Patent Office’s fault, because it should have updated its database quicker. She guarantees that the name will be listed there shortly, if not already.

Windows Azure is the most important plan in 16 years aimed at keeping Windows operating system franchise vital. The project was unveiled by Microsoft’s head software developer, Ray Ozzie, at a conference in L.A. The OS will allow greater flexibility in using Windows, by letting companies run some programs on their own computer networks while also commissioning Microsoft to dole out other tasks from its own massive data centers. It looks like a possible success for Windows Azure won’t be matched even by Google. The unannounced launch is compared to the one of the Microsoft Windows NT, which ensured Microsoft’s domination over PCs.

Another opponent besides Google is Amazon, whose pioneering in the Web services domain threatens Microsoft. The online shop rents various elements of an IT shop – basic computing, storage space or access to database programs. Ozzie also told the media that Microsoft Azure will lead to a host of new services for companies and consumers and it could reach millions of customers far more efficiently than if it had to build its own infrastructure to serve them.