Microsoft’s free test period comes to an end on February 1^st, as it will start to bill customers that use its pay-as-you-go Windows based Azure cloud computing services.   Microsoft offers companies the choice of a pay per use “consumption" pricing plan or a “commitment” option where companies can obtain discounts for a six month commitment.   To help potential customers estimate their costs and compare programs, Microsoft is providing calculators.   The company makes “no warranties” about the results that the calculators generate.

Microsoft claims that it will make a healthy return on the new cloud services because the company will garner a higher percent of IT spending at target accounts.  From a customer’s perspective, companies ask whether there it is more cost effective to own their own hardware and software solutions or buy Azure cloud services. Microsoft admits that Azure cloud services may be more expensive than on-premise solutions; however the results are always situation dependent.   Tim O’Brien, Microsoft’s senior director platform strategy, said that some early clients such has Domino’s Pizzas are saving “millions” of dollars.

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