Maarten Balliauw has posted a new announcement to his blog today - a new contest that Microsoft is hosting surrounding building PHP applications on the Azure platform.

The PHP on Azure Contest is a coding competition run by the PHP Benelux User Group supported by Microsoft. Windows Azure is Microsoft's Cloud platform with tools and support for PHP. Participate to win a ticket, airfare and hotel to visit MIX2012 in Las Vegas, a Windows Phone 7 or other great prizes! The contest runs from February 1st 2011 to May 15th 2011.

Participants will build their application, blog about the progress and talk about what they think of the Azure platform as they go. You must enter before February 28th and have the application completed by May 15th - the winners will be announced at this year's Dutch PHP Conference. Other prizes include an Samsung Omnia 7 (Windows phone), a Microsoft Kinect sensor for Xbox 360 and another Samsung Omnia 7 for the top blogger participant.