Microsoft today revealed its three-in-one cloud service, Azure App Service, that has bundled Azure Websites, Azure Mobile Services, and Azure BizTalk Services, in an effort to provide developers a one-stop single-service facility in which they can deliver cross-platform, cloud-connected applications at less cost and more convenience.

The combination of the three services follows the model of the Windows 10 universal app platform in that developers can create an application for web and mobile without having to develop two different versions. The service will cost no more than what Azure Websites charges for its present service, and will offer new capabilities from Mobile, Logic, and API apps with no extra costs. Azure Websites, Mobile Services and BizTalk Services will from now on not be available as separate services, but developers will be able to choose either the entire bundle, or opt to use one, or two of the services.

In a blog post highlighting the oft recited Microsoft mantra of a cloud-first, mobile-first vision, Bill Staples, Corporate Vice President, App Platform, Microsoft Azure, said, “App Service builds on Microsoft Azure’s open, easy to use services, to let developers build apps for any device, and any platform, in a simple, integrated developer experience using their language and tools of choice.” With the new simplified service developers can create applications that run on Azure, but data can be integrated from not just Microsoft’s cloud, but any cloud, as well as data on Microsoft’s on-premises servers.

Customers using Azure Mobile Services will be given time to migrate their apps to the Azure App Service using these instructions, while sites running Azure websites will move to the service without any effort from customers, it was reported.

Microsoft announced that App Service is available starting today, with the Mobile, Logic, and API app types still in public preview. It was also revealed the Azure for Student Developers program, a service providing free access to Azure services to high school and university students, is now available.

More details on the Azure App Service were given during a Webcast on Mach 24^th.

Photo credit: Microsoft