Amazon EC2 Spot introduces new pricing model and the ability to launch Spot instances via RunInstances API

Amazon EC2 simplified the Amazon EC2 Spot instance pricing by moving to a model that delivers low, predictable prices that adjust gradually based on long-term trends in supply and demand. You will continue to save up to 90% off the On-Demand instance price and you will continue to pay the Spot price that's in effect at the beginning of each instance-hour for your running instance.

Amazon EC2 Spot now allows you to launch Spot instances via the RunInstances function, run-instances command or AWS management console by simply indicating you want to use Spot. Unlike the old model that required an understanding of Spot markets, bidding and calls to a standalone asynchronous API, the new model is synchronous and as easy to use as On-Demand. To launch a Spot instance from the command line, simply specify Spot for InstanceMarketOption parameterin the call to run-instances command and you will receive an instance ID immediately if the capacity is fulfilled.

You now have the option to request Spot instances without a bid price. Applications that use Spot and currently submit a bid price will continue to work as is, with no changes.

All the new features are now available in all the Spot supported regions and you can start using it today via the SDK, CLI or AWS console.

To learn more about Spot New pricing model and launching instances via RunInstances, visit the Amazon EC2 Spot page and read the blog post. To learn about how Spot instances work, visit here.