Microsoft, Oracle name the date to consummate Azure deal
Microsoft has written to Oracle-on-Azure users, letting them know that as of March 12th they'll be paying for the Oracle bits of it.
Oracle's database, the WebLogic Server and Java development have been available on Azure since September 2013, when the two software titans delivered on their June 2013 announcement of a cloudy détente. The announcement of the deal was extraordinary: Microsoft and Oracle have seldom been on cordial terms, so it was taken as a sign of AWS-inspired desperation that the two played together nicely. Realising the agreement with actual services saw us wheel out the sub-heading “'Hell frozen', report flying pigs”.
The Reg has now learned that things are going so well the Oracle-on-Azure service will reach the milestone of General Availability on March 15th. Evidence for that news can be found in this email sent to Azure customers that says “Windows-based Oracle software images will become generally available on March 12, 2014.” Thanks to @amaclach for the directions to the mail.
