Windows Intune extends the reach of its management solution and enhances existing features, to optimise your ability to support your business needs.

This release of Windows Intune can be viewed as three scenario layers. The first layer is the core Windows Intune cloud services layer - these have been updated to provide greater functionality and performance.

Next, Windows Intune has a new user-centric approach that enables IT Professionals to target key management functions at user accounts. These user accounts are maintained in the Windows Azure Active Directory - the same online directory service used for other Microsoft Online Services such as Office 365. This means you can synchronise users and groups from your existing online services and manage them with Windows Intune.

Finally, Windows Intune has been extended to support a range of mobile devices. In this release, you are able to link Windows Intune to your on-premise Microsoft Exchange Server infrastructure to enable new mobile device management features through the Windows Intune Administrator console.

For more information contact us on 0845 265 1265 or email: info@phoenixs.co.uk

Phoenix Software, in association with Microsoft,  are hosting an event focussing on the benefits of cloud computing, aimed specifically at the voluntary sector.

The event takes place on 6^th April 2011 at NCVO Offices in London, and I am pleased to confirm that James Akrigg from Microsoft will be presenting.  James is one of the most knowledgeable and inspirational people I have had the pleasure of working with at Microsoft so I am delighted that he will be joining us for this event.

Along with Microsoft, Core who are our chosen partner for SharePoint services and BPOS migrations will also be presenting their offerings.

The event will hopefully give you insight into Microsoft’s cloud offering and an understanding of how Phoenix, Microsoft and Core can assist you with a move to Microsoft Online Services.

Phoenix Software regularly host a range of events, webinars and workshops throughout the UK covering many topics from virtualisation, email archiving and software asset management to software licensing, storage and Windows 7: http://www.phoenixs.co.uk/phoenix-software-events/phoenix-software-events.aspx

http://pinpoint.microsoft.com/en-GB/PartnerDetails.aspx?PartnerId=4295468100&LocId=-1&ProductId=4295006207&CurrentTab=1

Hot off the press ... Microsoft has just announced Office 365 which will replace BPOS, Live@edu and Office Live Small Business. It will incorporate applications such as Office, Lync, SharePoint and Exchange all as a cloud service.

Customers with Enterprise Agreements can add an amendment to their existing agreement to easily acquire these offerings, which will be available in the first half of 2011.

For more information on Microsoft Online Services as they are available today, please go to http://www.phoenixs.co.uk/news/Microsoft-Online-Services.aspx, contact your Account Manager on 0845 265 1265 or email info@phoenixs.co.uk.

Phoenix Software have lots of exciting news to impart over the coming months.  Our most recent event schedule includes software asset management advice to NHS organisations, Microsoft’s Online Services and VMware’s desktop virtualisation technology.

A little later in the year we will have more detailed information about the FAST Annual Conference in Surrey (November) where delegates will be actively looking to improve and enhance SAM and Governance policies in IT, and the IT in Housing Event in London (23-24 November) offering delegates and visitors an excellent one-stop opportunity to explore the latest innovations, products and services from 80 leading ICT suppliers to the housing sector.

Software Asset Management for NHS Organisations
With the recent end to the NHS Connecting for Health's (CfH) software licensing agreement with Microsoft, we expect software licences owned by Connecting for Health to be transferred to individual NHS organisations by 30 September 2010 or soon after.

As a result of this, all Trusts/FTs, PCTs, SHAs, Arms Length Bodies, Hospices etc will be solely responsible for all aspects of funding, purchasing and managing Microsoft licences. This means that it will then be up to each individual NHS organisation to be correctly licensed for Microsoft software.
Phoenix Software are holding events in York and London designed to give you a clear strategy for dealing with the management of your software assets. By attending you will learn how licence optimisation could potentially save your organisation money. Plus, you will be entitled to a free copy of Licence Dashboard™ - a software licence management tool fully approved by Microsoft.

Event dates: Friday 10th September, 2010 – York and Friday 15th October – London

For further information on either of these event dates, or the Webinar dates throughout August and September, email seminars@phoenixs.co.uk or contact Joanne Halley on 0845 265 1232.

Microsoft Online Services
Phoenix Software and Core Technology are delighted to offer you the opportunity to learn more about the new Microsoft Online Services
Designed to meet the unique needs of your organisation, Microsoft's software-plus-services vision brings together the best of rich on-premise applications and flexible online services to give you ready access to the latest messaging and collaboration tools - without costly deployment and time-consuming maintenance.

Microsoft Online Services gives your organisation the powerful productivity capabilities of Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server, Microsoft Office Communications Server and Microsoft Office Live Meeting - all hosted online and all up and running quickly and easily without the upfront costs of an on-premise deployment. Microsoft Online Services reliably deliver 99.9% scheduled uptime and carries a financially-backed service level agreement.

During the course of our Breakfast Briefing you will learn about the Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS), including a demo of the system and details of the funding available for a limited number of pilots for those who attend this event.

Event date: Friday 8th October, 2010 – London

For further information on this event, email seminars@phoenixs.co.uk or contact Joanne Halley on 0845 265 1232.

VMware your World: Servers, Desktops & the Cloud
In partnership, Phoenix and VMware are pleased to invite you to an event showcasing the latest versions of VMware server and desktop virtualisation technology - vSphere 4 and View 4.5.

BEGIN THE JOURNEY TO A PRIVATE CLOUD
Get the highest levels of availability and responsiveness for all applications and services with VMware vSphere - the most complete and robust platform for virtualisation in the world.

Increase IT control through service level automation, dramatically reducing capital and operating costs and maximising IT efficiency. Virtualise your business-critical applications for unprecedented flexibility and reliability with the lowest total cost per application workload.

VIRTUALISE, SIMPLIFY & CONTROL YOUR DESKTOPS
Increase efficiency, reliability and availability by delivering desktops from the data centre as a managed service. Create a more flexible business infrastructure so you can quickly respond to changing end user needs. Deploy applications and desktops faster and with fewer help desk calls for improved business continuity.

Event dates: Thursday 16th September – Leeds, Wednesday 29th October – Frimley

For further information on this event, email seminars@phoenixs.co.uk or contact Joanne Halley on 0845 265 1232.