To reduce database read latency for globally distributed applications, PlanetScale Portals allow users to create read-only regions near their applications, enabling faster reads and better user experience worldwide. With a few clicks, developers can set up additional read-only regions without worrying about capacity planning or pricing structures, as PlanetScale handles these complexities. The connection to the new read-only region is established using a connection string, which can be set up in various application frameworks, including Ruby on Rails. Automatic role switching and reading one's own writes are also supported to protect users from stale data due to replication lag. Pricing for Portals is based on storage costs and row reads, with storage costs increasing linearly with the number of read-only regions added. PlanetScale Portals are available in beta today, allowing developers to try it out and provide feedback.