Chinese users will be able to sign up and preview Microsoft’s cloud computing platform Windows Azure starting from June 6, Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer of Microsoft Corp, said in Shanghai on Wednesday.

After about 18 months of preparation, Windows Azure has eventually settled down in the Pudong area of Shanghai. At the very beginning, the service will be provided free to Chinese users. But Ya-Qin Zhang, chairman of the Asia-Pacific R&D Group of Microsoft added that “the price will be very competitive when they start to charge Chinese users”.

21Vianet Group Inc, the largest carrier-neutral Internet data center services provider in China, is authorized to operate and provide Windows Azure in the country. Microsoft, 21Vianet and the municipal government of Shanghai signed a Memorandum of Understanding in November 2012 to operate the Windows Azure platform.