Patric McElroy, Group Program Manager of SQL Data Services team talks with Michael Cote of RedMonk about what’s coming with the new SDS, and where there will be symmetry with SQL Server.  Really nice interview! 

This was recorded a few weeks back at MIX09.  A few nuggets that stood out to me:

• SDS will support TDS protocol and T-SQL at v1 release.  More in the SQL Data Services FAQ here.
• For 80% of apps deployment to the cloud will simply mean pointing the deployment scripts to a new location.  The same rich toolsets used by DBAs and data programmers will still be the best way to work. 
• Improve compliance/management of departmental apps and data without the deployment friction of creating and enforcing internal centralized database hosting operations.