Recent News

Finally, it’s time for Microsoft’s Azure RemoteApp service to reach users. The service will be available from next week, December 11, to be precise. The service, codenamed Mohoro, will allow users deploy Windows apps in the cloud, which can then be accessed from several other devices. Customers who had earlier opted for preview subscriptions will be moved to a 30-day free trial automatically after the roll-out.

On the sidelines of an event to announce the graduation of the fifth batch of Microsoft’s accelerator programme in India, Zack Weisfeld, Head, Microsoft Ventures Europe and Global Accelerator Programme, spoke about how the Indian start-up ecosystem fares against other countries. “I think India has great technologists and many of those I have met here are world class,” he said. “But there are a few areas that they could do better in. From my experience, they need to be bolder about what they do.”

Microsoft Mobile is betting big on its unique applications to counter rivals and bolster its presence in a smartphone segment that is growing at a frenzied pace in the country. “We are offering five unique Microsoft services for free to our smartphone users – Skype video calling, Office 365, One Note, One Drive and X-Box Games. No other smartphone vendor can boast of these first party applications,” says, Kislay Kumar, Director (East), Nokia India Sales Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Microsoft Mobile Oy.

Microsoft’s new Azure websites offers more management and monitoring options for websites and web-apps. It has introduced a new analytics and self-service capabilities to help users optimize their websites and web-based apps. Other updates include Azure Websites Diagnostic as a Service (DaaS), which now features PHP reporting options in the extension. The new feature can scan live PHP processes and it can process a PHP report without capturing dumps.

Large Indian companies are now increasingly acknowledging the innovations by technology start-ups in the country and looking to engage with them with a view to derive competitive advantage. Ravi Narayan, director of Microsoft Ventures India, says that he frequently gets requests from organisations that wish to engage with start-ups in a way that could aid their businesses. Through the several rounds of its ‘customer access programs’ in 2014, Microsoft Ventures has seen over 40 successful deals.

FreeCharge has launched the world’s first “speak to recharge” feature to on its mobile app for Windows Phones. Commenting on the launch, Joseph Landes, General Manager – Developer Experience, Microsoft India, said, “Since its launch on the Windows Phone store, FreeCharge has become immensely popular with consumers for the ease with which it allows them to transact online. Providing a great user experience is critical to Windows apps and we are sure our users will find the inclusion of the ‘speak to recharge’ feature useful.”

In his first shareholder meeting as chief executive officer of Microsoft Corp, Satya Nadella emphasized one message: Diversity matters. “We will make progress every year towards building a more diverse workforce and creating opportunities at every level of the company for all of Microsoft’s employees,” Nadella said at the meeting, which was attended by several hundred shareholders and featured a cameo appearance from former CEO Steve Ballmer.

Lava is the latest company to join the Windows Phone bandwagon with the launch of the Iris Win1, priced at Rs. 4,999 in India. Commenting on the launch of Iris Win1, Navin Chawla, Vice President and Head-Product, Lava International Limited said, “We are pleased to add Iris Win1 – Windows powered device in our smartphone portfolio for consumers who are looking for Windows platform.” Rajiv Ahlawat, Director, Mobility, Microsoft India, stated, “Our deep engagement with local OEMs is one of the engines of growth for Windows Phone and we are proud of our partnership with Lava. With the Iris Win1, Windows Phone is now available to a whole new group of consumers in India, who are looking for innovation and value.”

HP announced on December 2 at the company’s HP Discover conference that it will sell Microsoft’s Office 365 coupled with HP services as a single enterprise bundle. HP’s new offering, called HP Enterprise Services for Office 365, provides Office 365 business customers with HP services, support and expanded datacenter location options.

Dynamics customers can now get their hands on the suite’s latest update, which includes the ability to add the Cortana voice-command technology to the company’s CRM software. Users will be able to speak voice commands to the software by using the Cortana personal assistant, which only understands English. Some of the tasks that Cortana can handle include searching for contacts and activities, setting up meetings and creating records.