Microsoft Product & Partner News

4 Cloud Storage Options for SMBs

brian@partnerpoint.com — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:06:00 GMT

As earlier predicted, cloud storage options are becoming increasingly popular, offering users the ability to access files and documents regardless of where they are in the world or what device they have in their hand. And with so many different services now available, I thought I’d share some of the most popular to help users and business owners decide which may be the best match for them.

Below are some of my personal favorites and options you may want to consider if you’re thinking cloud storage may be right for your business:

1. Dropbox

You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t love Dropbox. Like many of the other cloud storage options, Dropbox offers you the ability to store your files, documents, photos and videos in the cloud and keep them synced with your computer, phone, and online Dropbox account. What really stands out for me is the ease in which all of this happens. I can create a Dropbox folder, invite other people to it, and it’s as if I’ve created that folder directly on their computer. Other sites many offer similar sharing options, but it’s the simplicity of Dropbox that has made it such a crowd favorite.

Dropbox offers tiered pricing plans which begin with a free 2GB option and extend all the way to a team pricing model offering 1TB of storage. If you’ve wanted to incorporate cloud storage into your business, but weren’t sure how to get started, I’d recommend doing so with Dropbox.

2. SugarSync

SugarSync is a great service for business owners who will be heavy on the file syncing. With SugarSync, you can backup, sync, access and share all your files on-the-go, instantly and securely from virtually any device. It learns the way that you organize your files and folders so that if you’re working on a report from home, it will be synced and in the right folder when you head into the office tomorrow. For a frazzled SMB, that’s a neat benefit. SugarSync also boasts a number of pretty intuitive features and value adds like robust file sharing capabilities, an admin dashboard, optional password protection, and integration with Microsoft Outlook to help business owners manage their businesses from where they are and do it securely.

Tags: dropbox

Category: Cloud Computing

Microsoft poised to reap rewards from Facebook IPO

brian@partnerpoint.com — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:37:00 GMT

Posted by Janet I. Tu

(This article is running in the print edition of The Seattle Times May 17, 2012. - Janet I. Tu)

When Facebook completes its initial public offering this week, Microsoft certainly will benefit financially.

At the high end, Facebook could be valued at up to $104 billion, which means Microsoft could see its original investment in Facebook grow in value from $240 million to up to $1.6 billion.

Microsoft, which now has a 1.8 percent stake in Facebook, is also planning to offer 6.6 million of its 33 million shares in the IPO. If valued at the high-end estimate of $38 per share, that means Microsoft would make some $250 million.

Not bad for what was a relatively small investment, for Microsoft, back in 2007.

But probably more important to Microsoft than the money is the partnership the two companies have built over the past six years. They've made mutually beneficial moves in the fight against their common competitor, Google.

"Facebook has been really valuable as a way for Microsoft to reach customers it couldn't get to otherwise," said Rob Helm, an analyst at independent research firm Directions on Microsoft. "It's an asset for Microsoft's business products as well."

Tags: Facebook IPO

Category: Microsoft

Category: FaceBook

Microsoft Bing Friends Facebook

brian@partnerpoint.com — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:51:00 GMT

In an effort to outdo Google's social search integration, Microsoft has tagged Facebook. Here's what the move means.

By Thomas Claburn InformationWeek
May 11, 2012 09:05 AM

Search is going social, like it or not. In a few weeks, Microsoft plans to roll out a revised version of its Bing search engine that includes a way to involve Facebook friends in the search process.

While the move looks like a response to Google's Search Plus Your World social integration, announced in January, it's more than that. Microsoft believes it can make search better by enabling Bing users to pose questions during the search process to Facebook users. This functionality will be available to users shortly through a new sidebar interface.

Bing will also be aggregating content posted on social networks and services like Twitter, Foursquare, Quora, LinkedIn, Google Plus and Blogger, and presenting that content when relevant."You can post a question to get help from your Facebook friends as you search," explain Bing corporate VPs Derrick Connell and Harry Shum in a blog post. "You can 'tag' friends Bing suggests might know about the topic. In a few simple clicks you can share your search and your friends can reply to your question on either Facebook or Bing."

[ See Google Marries Google+ To Search Results . ]

All the major browsers support some form of privacy mode. Internet Explorer looks like it will be the first to get a publicity mode. Nonetheless, Microsoft insists it has made an effort to maximize privacy protections. The company says that while you're using Bing and signed into Facebook, Bing will only reveal content that friends could access through Facebook directly.

Category: Microsoft

Category: Bing

Category: FaceBook

MirageTable: Microsoft presents augmented reality device

brian@partnerpoint.com — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:28:00 GMT

Researchers used the device to collaborate on how to build an object out of blocks

Microsoft has shown off an augmented reality system that allows users at different locations to work together on tabletop activities, sharing objects which they can both handle.

The MirageTable was demonstrated at a conference in Austin, Texas and is outlined on the firm's research site.

Researchers said it could "fool" the eye to suggest both parties were using a "seamless 3D shared task space".

The team admitted more work was needed before the system could be marketed.

Avoiding bulky equipment

The MirageTable uses a 3D-video projector to beam images onto a sheet of curved white plastic placed in front of the user.

At each end one of Microsoft's Kinect depth camera sensors is used to track the direction of each person's gaze as well as to capture the shape and appearance of objects placed on the surface and the participant sitting behind them.

Users are also required to wear shutter glasses in order to see the projected image in three dimensions. Two computers linked by a network connection are required to power the experience.

Tags: MirageTable,Augmented Reality

Category: Microsoft

Microsoft to eliminate its Azure branding in billing portal

brian@partnerpoint.com — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:05:00 GMT

By Mary Jo Foley

Summary: Microsoft is cutting the name “Azure” out of the branding for its cloud services on its billing portal.

Microsoft is informing customers of its Windows Azure cloud that it is rebranding many, if not all, of the component services in a way that eliminates the “Azure” name on its billing portal.

“Windows Azure Compute” will now be known simply as “Cloud Services,” according to the Microsoft officials. SQL Azure is now known as “SQL Database.” Here’s the full list of what’s being rechristened:

(click on the table above to enlarge)

Category: Microsoft

Category: Microsoft Windows Azure

Microsoft Product & Partner News

4 Cloud Storage Options for SMBs

Microsoft poised to reap rewards from Facebook IPO

Microsoft Bing Friends Facebook

MirageTable: Microsoft presents augmented reality device

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Microsoft to eliminate its Azure branding in billing portal