The VAR Guy

ISVs and VARs building cross-platform mobile applications with cloud features might enjoy Microsoft’s latest release. Now, Windows Azure Toolkit has been released for Android, bringing iOS and Windows Phone 7 into one big fluffy Azure fold. What does that mean for ISVs and VARs? Here are the all-important details for developers …

Short and sweet: Now the entire Android ecosystem has access to Microsoft Azure’s storage and authentication libraries for native application deployment. ISVs can take advantage of cross-platform development with a unified back-end to create a cohesive mobile experience across all platforms. Azure storage and authentication libraries can enable developers to aggregate information and data such as personal information, stock or bank alert details, digital messages or databases that are unique to the user and the application.

Like iOS and Windows Phone before it, Android developers are now privy to the new Android toolkit, which contains sample applications for testing and comprehension, along with unit tests. As the Nokia Mango Windows Phone launch looms ahead, ISVs and VARs may find themselves in a world where Windows Phone 7 integrates nicely with existing devices thanks to applications either being used, or being developed, with the Azure Toolkit.

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