DiscountASP.NET partnered with Microsoft to unveil a free sandbox hosting program at the Professional Developers Conference (PDC) 2008. The program was designed to allow developers to get early experience with next-generation web application packaging and deployment scenarios using the Microsoft Web Deployment Tool until March 2009.
Today, DiscountASP.NET announces extending the free Microsoft Web Deployment Tool sandbox hosting program until June 30, 2009 with the latest Web Deployment Tool RC1 that was introduced at MIX 2009.
The free Web Deployment Tool sandbox hosting program is a limited program offered as an open beta on a first come first serve basis. The sandbox hosting account comes with 50 MB of disk space and 50 MB of SQL Server 2008 database space. Interested developers are welcome to sign up at http://labs.discountasp.net.
Microsoft is focused on improving the application deployment experience. First, Microsoft is working directly with software vendors and open source communities to package popular applications and distribute them through the new Web Platform Installer (which I discussed in an earlier post). Second, Microsoft is working on improving their authoring programs and migration tools to make it easier for developers to package their own applications for migration and for distribution.
This free sandbox hosting program is a great way for devlopers to get first hand experience with the Web Deployment Tool and provide their feedback to Microsoft.
Takeshi Eto
VP Marketing and Business Development
DiscountASP.NET