Also announced was a SQL Server driver that provides Azure support for PHP (hypertext preprocessor), a language popular among Web application developers. MSDN and Technet subscribers gained access to the previews Tuesday; they will be generally available Wednesday.

SQL Azure Database is available at no charge until Azure's commercial launch in November, at which point it will be offered in two tiers. The Web edition will cost US$9.99 a month and allow up to 1GB of data, while the Business Edition will include up to 10GB and cost $99.99 per month, according to an official blog .

The software represents a subset of SQL Server 2008's capabilities, according to Forrester Research analyst James Kobielus.

"This is a proof-of-concept that SQL Server can be ported to the cloud and support some advanced analytics that would be expensive if deployed on premises," Kobielus said.

Meanwhile, SQL Server StreamInsight, which will compete with CEP technologies from the likes of Tibco and IBM, focuses on finding insights from real-time information.