easyJet sees the cloud's Azure lining

As more details of Microsoft's cloud computing Azure Services Platform (ASP) emerged yesterday, low-cost airline easyJet has revealed it's planning to trial the tech.

ASP will be launched commercially in the fourth quarter of this year and includes the Windows Azure computing and storage service, the SQL Azure database platform and .NET Services.

easyJet is currently looking at using Azure to run its newly developed customer services platform, Halo, which it hopes will allow it to do away with service desks at airports.

Currently airlines have to use desk-based common use terminal equipment and pay for space in the airport to locate it. In the future, Halo could see the airline take its check in mobile, by integrating mobile handsets with the platform. easyJet customer service staff would then be able to approach passengers to check them and their baggage in through the handhelds, helping to cut down on queues.

The company is hoping to integrate the mobile devices using the Microsoft .NET Service Bus, part of ASP's .Net Services component, and run the entire Halo platform on Windows Azure.

The company originally thought it would have to invest in an entirely new datacentre to run Halo but has now decided that using Azure will be a more cost-efficient alternative.

According to Bert Craven, enterprise architect at easyJet, the airline has a 100 per cent Microsoft technology stack and, with a minimal R&D budget, has to develop new services as economically as possible.

Craven said Azure had "unlocked a piece of the puzzle" in terms of the company's development work and will allow his team to work on new technology with minimal investment.

The Halo system is due to be trialled at three airports in November this year, one of which will be in the UK.