Forbidden's video suite added to Microsoft's Azure cloud service

Forbidden Technologies said its suite of video post-production software will be made available via Microsoft's Azure cloud-based service.

Customers will be able to buy Forscene licences through the Azure Marketplace, Microsoft's online store that provides pre-configured software applications services and data for use on the platform.

AIM-listed Forbidden said many media companies used Azure for their cloud computing needs and many of its own existing clients had demanded an Azure-Forscene solution.

In line with its increased focus on driving sales growth, the company added that the agreement provided it with access to Microsoft's substantial sales force and a new sales channel.

Headlining the news rather grandly as 'Agreement with Microsoft', Forbidden argued that being included among the 3,531 apps available on the marketplace represented "further, significant validation of the technology".

Business development director Jason Cowan said: "It's difficult to overstate the impact this new workflow could have on rapid turn around productions. As professional media companies continue their shift away from high capital expenditure workflows to variable cost workflows, Forbidden's partnership with Microsoft positions us perfectly to meet a variety of customer needs."

Chief executive Aziz Musa added that the company expected to generate some income directly from this agreement in 2016, but anticipated noticeable differences only to emerge in 2017.

Shares in Forbidden Technologies rocketed up 50% initially on the news before retreating to 11.79p just before noon, a rise of 28% on the day.