Expanding further on its recent cloud services announcements, CSC (NYSE: CSC) today announced a collaboration with Microsoft Corp. to utilize the Windows Azure platform. The platform provides a wide range of Internet services that can be accessed from on-premises or in the cloud. In recognition of this global agreement, CSC is announcing the formation of a dedicated CSC Global Competency Center located in Vietnam specializing in Windows Azure. Microsoft and CSC will be engaged in joint marketing and sales initiatives to independent software vendor (ISV) and enterprise customers to take advantage of the Windows Azure platform.

By combining Microsoft's commitment to the Windows Azure platform with CSC's global applications development experience, this software and services agreement will bring the ROI benefits of cloud computing to business and government clients around the globe. With more than 2,000 .NET developers, CSC stands ready to support large scale development projects with public cloud computing benefits delivered by the Windows Azure platform.

"This announcement comes on the heels of CSC's selection as a Microsoft Business Productivity OnLine Suite of solutions reseller offering a broader range of cloud-based services," said Brian Boruff, vice president of CSC's cloud computing and Software Services. "We are very pleased to be working with Microsoft to bring the benefits of cloud computing to both Enterprise and ISV clients."

"We are excited about our growing relationship with CSC," said Doug Hauger, General Manager of Windows Azure. "With a global commitment to Windows Azure, CSC is embracing cloud computing in a very aggressive fashion and we applaud the innovation this agreement will drive in the market. The partnership between our companies is a perfect match of software and services capabilities."