Enabling seamless communication experiences for the web with Skype, Skype for Business and Microsoft Edge

Enabling seamless communication experiences for the web with Skype, Skype for Business and Microsoft Edge: Today we’re excited to share an important step in our efforts to bring seamless real-time communication experiences on the web to everyone—the Object Real-Time Communications Community (ORTC) API preview for Microsoft Edge browser is now available in the latest Windows Insider Preview release!

New Office 365 Admin Center Preview​

Take a peek at the new Office 365 Admin Center Preview ​that is more intuitive, informative, scalable and insightful so that you can do more in Office 365. This is a preview so there is much more to come. 

Office 365 Import Service—migration to SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business just became easier

Office 365 Import Service—migration to SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business just became easier: The Office 365 Import Service has enhanced the SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business content migration experience by making it fast and simple.

Office ProPlus: Current Branch and Current Branch for Business explained

What is Microsoft Current Branch, how does this compare to Current Branch for Business?

For customers who currently use Office 365 ProPlus, (the subscription version of Office apps for companies and organizations), you can continue to receive monthly feature and security updates just as you have been over the past few years. Moving forward, this always up-to-date approach is called Current Branch and means that you always have the most current Office apps and capabilities deployed. The next Current Branch will release on September 22nd and will have all of the new Office 2016 app updates included.

Based on feedback from many organizations running Office 365 ProPlus, I am excited to announce that we are adding a new option for updating Office called Current Branch for Business. If your organization typically waits a few months prior to rolling out a new version of Office or needs more time to test Office 2016 and your customizations between feature updates, this will be welcomed news.

Consistent with Windows 10 approach, the new Current Branch for Business update model delivers three cumulative feature updates per year, while continuing to offer monthly security updates. You’ll see the first Current Branch for Business build in February 2016—which is effectively the same feature set as the September 22nd release, but with four additional months of security updates also included. This tri-annual update model offers an additional way for Office 365 ProPlus to stay current moving forward. You can find out about the new servicing options on TechNet.

Office 2016 released date announced

Great news!

Microsoft have just confirmed Office 2016 will be broadly available starting on September 22nd. 

Business with a a volume licensing agreement in place, you can download Office 2016 from the Volume Licensing Service Center starting October 1st.

Microsoft announce new partnership with Dell

http://news.microsoft.com/2015/09/08/microsoft-and-dell-partner-to-deliver-windows-10-devices-and-unmatched-sales-services-and-support-to-the-enterprise/

Microsoft Getting in bed with Dell makes the Surface a better bet than ever for businesses

There is no doubt that the Microsoft surface brand has gone from a quirky niche product to a real laptop alternative,  however there are still limitations.

Although Microsoft are hugely experienced in manufacture of peripherals and accessories, they are relative newcomers in the endpoint market.  A result of this is a limited channel model, with very few resellers able to sell the product, and poor after sale hardware support.

The lack of support is a major issue for business, who need a predicable, cost effective method for supporting and repairing their hardware.

To address these issues, Microsoft have announced a major new initiative to partner with Dell to sell and support their Surface devices.

This will allow Dell to provide the option of Dell Services, including Dell Hardware Warranty (up to 4 years), ProSupport with Accidental Damage Service, and Configuration and Deployment Services.

The quality of the Surface product combined with these services, makes the Surface device a much more attractive proposition.