Microsoft Corporation (MSFT), Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN): Investing in This Type of Computing Could Put You on Cloud 9

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) goes on cloud spending spree

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has poured considerable resources into cloud computing. In fact, in 2011, the company spent nearly all of its $9.6 billion annual research and development budget on cloud. The company’s recent cloud-first strategy has shown that the investment could pay off. The strategy looks to service businesses with with Microsoft Windows Azure, which will facilitate information storage and aims to make the process much easier, though details haven’t been released.

But, what is known is that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has already reported that Azure has helped the company reach the $1 billion benchmark in cloud-related revenue. Any integration of cloud computing with Azure will land a heap of clients due to Azure being tied in with the Windows operating system, which is often the default software in new computers.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is also a big player in the Unified Communications market, a $30.5 billion business that experts believe will be worth more than double that by 2018. The business integrates real-time communications services such as Skype. Microsoft is nearly ready to launch Lync with Skype enabled. This will give Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) a stronger hold on the global customer base.

Get in now and be ready to wait

Cloud computing still has a long way to go before all the electronic components it takes to run a business can be fully integrated. The three companies mentioned have what it takes to dominate in this market, and the sector is large enough for them all to profit.

Phillip Woolgar has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Amazon.com. The Motley Fool owns shares of Amazon.com, International Business Machines., and Microsoft.

The article Investing in This Type of Computing Could Put You on Cloud 9 originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Phillip Woolgar.

Phillip is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network — entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.

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