A number of Windows 8 apps will be accessing online databases for some of their features. Today, Microsoft has revealed that it will provide Windows 8 app developers a way to give their software better access to the company's Windows Azure cloud-based online services.
In a new post written by Scott Guthrie, Microsoft's Corporate Vice President Program Management for Server and Tools, he has officially announced the company's new Windows Azure Mobile Services division. He states:
Windows Azure Mobile Services makes it incredibly easy to connect a scalable cloud backend to your client and mobile applications. It allows you to easily store structured data in the cloud that can span both devices and users, integrate it with user authentication, as well as send out updates to clients via push notifications. Today’s release enables you to add these capabilities to any Windows 8 app in literally minutes, and provides a super productive way for you to quickly build out your app ideas.