Get Started

To successfully activate Windows Azure platform benefits BizSpark subscribers will need to go through a three step process:

1. Activate Windows Azure subscription

   • Sign-in to your MSDN benefits page
   • Use the Windows Azure Platform link from MyAccount and follow the steps to “Activate” your MSDN benefits
   • Access Windows Azure through the developer portal
   
   
   
   ⇒ Sign up help

2. Download the tools

   • Visual Studio Developers: Download and Install Windows Azure Tools for Microsoft Visual Studio 1.3: Get Windows Azure Tools for Visual Studio to start building and debugging applications for Windows Azure.

     Download Windows Azure tools for Visual studio

     Note: If you Do not have Visual Studio? Download Visual studio Express free-of-cost: Visual Web Developer 2010 Express is a set of free development tools you can download and install before installing Windows Azure Tools for Visual Studio

     Download Visual Web Developer 2010 Express

   • PHP Developers: The Windows Azure SDK for PHP enables PHP developers to take advantage of the Microsoft Cloud Services Platform -Windows Azure.

     Windows Azure Companion

     Windows Azure SDK for PHP

   • Java Developers: The Windows Azure SDK for Java gives developers a speed dial to leverage Windows Azure Storage services. This SDK is used in the Windows Azure Tools for Eclipse project to develop the Windows Azure Explorer feature.

     Windows Azure SDK for Java

   • Mobile Developers: Windows Azure Toolkits for Mobile Devices including iPhone and Android.

     Windows Azure Mobile SDKs

3. Training: The training kit includes a comprehensive set of technical content to help you learn how to use Windows Azure and SQL Azure.

   • Download the Latest Training Kit