To get started with application development with Microsoft Azure, you will first need to have an Azure account and have a basic understanding of the Azure portal. Before we start, let's create an Azure account.

To get started with the $200 of free credit, go to https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/free/ and click on the Start free button:

Use your Microsoft account (formerly your Windows Live ID) to log in to the portal. If you don't have a Microsoft account username, you will be able to create one from the same screen.

Once you log in to the portal for the first time, it will ask you to verify your identity. Enter your mobile number and credit card details to verify that you are a real person. Microsoft will not charge anything on your card, but a nominal $1 charge may hold initially on your card for verification and will be removed within 3-5 days.

Once your free credit ends or you reach the expiration date, you won't be able to use the services that Azure offers unless you manually go and pay for your subscription. You can also opt for a Pay-As-You-Go subscription and set a monthly spending cap. In this case, when you reach that monthly spending limit, it will automatically suspend the service and you won't incur any additional costs.