Microsoft have announced a number of new features coming soon, including:
SQL Azure Data Sync - SQL Azure Data Sync will allow instances of SQL Azure databases to synchronise with other SQL Azure databases in the same datacentre, and also to instances running in other datacentres. This will support scenarios where increased demand requires additional scale out of database services. Future enhancements to SQL Azure Data Sync will also allow synchronisation of SQL Azure data with SQL Server installations running on-premise. This supports a number of scenarios such as remote offices, distribution of workload, and the extension of local data to the cloud while retaining local resources.
SQL Azure Reporting - Deploy reporting services against a SQL Azure database using the same tools and techniques for local reporting. Reports can be accessed through the SQL Azure portal using a web browser, as well as from within applications. Data access and authorisation can be managed to ensure the correct level of accessibility to the data. As a cloud based solution, SQL Azure Reporting is a scalable and highly available platform that can meet widely variable demand reliably and effectively.
AppFabric Caching - The AppFabric Cache is an in-memory cache supporting Windows Azure and SQL Azure, providing high performance, scalability and availability of application data.
AppFabric Integration - AppFabric Integration provides capabilities familiar to users of BizTalk Server such as pipelines, transforms and adapters. Other features include Business Activity Monitoring, Rules, trading partner portals and pipelines to connect businesses together.
AppFabric Composite App - The AppFabric Composite App simplifies the management and deployment of cloud based applications. Configuration is also simplified and monitoring of the application is enhanced with logging of events, state and performance measures. Composite App hosts Windows Communication Foundation and Windows Workflow Foundation services in a high performance runtime environment.