"Amazon and Microsoft Strike $1 Billion Cloud Deal: Stock Surge Expected"

Amazon has committed to spending over $1 billion over five years to use Microsoft's cloud-based productivity suite, M365. The deal includes more than 1.5 million license seats across different tiers of Microsoft's suite, with around 550,000 seats for corporate workers and 1 million seats for frontline staff. This move represents a significant shift in the relationship between Amazon and Microsoft, as they are bitter rivals in the cloud computing market. Amazon is expected to start setting up on M365 this month, with the full transition for employees planned for early 2024. The actual cost for Amazon is likely to be lower than the official sticker price due to negotiated discounts.