India’s AICTE chooses Microsoft for largest cloud deployment!

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) announced today that AICTE is deploying Microsoft Live@edu over the next three months to more than 10,000 technical colleges and institutes throughout India.The cloud deployment will expand students’ access to high-quality technical education and collaboration.

The press release said -

“Live@edu is a hosted communication and collaboration service that offers email, Microsoft Office Web Apps, instant messaging and storage to AICTE’s more than 7 million students and nearly 500,000 faculty members, for a total reach of 7.5 million users — roughly double the size of the Los Angeles population — making AICTE Microsoft’s largest cloud customer ever. Live@edu is the first step in AICTE’s deployment of Microsoft cloud computing for education. AICTE also plans to deploy Microsoft Office 365 for education when it becomes available later this year, providing access to Microsoft Exchange Online email and calendar, Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Lync Online and Microsoft Office Professional as the technical infrastructure to support member colleges and institutes.”

Part of India’s Ministry of Human Resource Development, AICTE is the governing body for technical education in India, certifying and managing technical colleges and institutes in a country where the technology industry and higher education are both becoming increasingly vital to the economy.

AICTE reviewed solutions from a range of vendors, including Microsoft, IBM and Google. One of the major factors in the decision to choose Microsoft’s cloud services for education was Microsoft’s comprehensive commitment to education across all the company’s products and programmes, as well as the system’s seamless interoperation with the entire Microsoft product portfolio. The council was also impressed by Microsoft’s extensive experience in higher education and ability to deploy a system across geographically distributed locations without adding significantly to the institutions’ IT management costs or complexity.

The implementation is already underway and is being managed by Microsoft and a set of Live@edu partners. Full deployment is expected to be complete by summer 2012.

Live@edu is the leading cloud suite for education, with more than 22 million people using the service worldwide. At 7.5 million users, the AICTE deployment is the largest cloud deployment ever. Other recent Live@edu adoptions include a 700,000 cloud-based collaboration solution for the Kentucky Department of Education. The online service helps educational institutions provide email and enterprise-grade online tools to students and faculty while helping to reduce costs and simplify IT management.

Live@edu is a no-cost hosted platform for student communication and collaboration, providing industry-leading services to the global education market. Email and calendars with a 10GB inbox, 25GB of additional file storage, document sharing, instant messaging, video chat and mobile email are just part of the feature set.

Check the complete press release here.

[video] What goes on in Microsoft Cloud Datacenters ?

Microsoft has recently released a video tour of four of Microsoft’s global datacentres to demystify ‘cloud computing’. This video provides an inside look at the evolution of the Microsoft data centres, since its first datacentre in 1989 and focuses on few example, including the first European “mega data centre” in Dublin. Microsoft continue to invest in datacentres and cloud computing technologies in order to provide a highly reliable and efficient platform for a new wave of online services.

This video will provide a deeper look at how Microsoft uses secure, reliable, scalable and efficient best practices to deliver over 200 cloud services to more than a billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 70 countries.

Microsoft’s cloud is now comprised of a globally distributed datacentre infrastructure supporting online services including Windows Azure, Office 365, Bing, MSN, Windows Live, Hotmail and Xbox Live.

SkyDrive changelog

Yesterday Microsoft released a new version of SkyDrive (New Windows Live SkyDrive : Features and Review ) built using HTML5 for the modern web.

For those who are interested in the nitty gritty, here’s the changelog as provided by the SkyDrive team -

SkyDrive ver 16.0 (Build 1648.0617)

Site -

• New layout, look and feel and site architecture
• SSL enabled on all authenticated pages
• Clean URLs (Removed most of the junk from the URLs)
• SkyDrive can now be pinned to your Windows 7 taskbar with jumplists (IE9)
• Header now says SkyDrive
• What’s new feed for docs and photos removed
• Upload file size limit now 100 MB
• Moved to edge-to-edge layout to take advantage of larger screens
• Reduced size of Header to give more room to your content
• New mobile views for all Photos / Docs experiences

Photos -

• Brand new Photos experience
• HTML 5 Videos playback
• Thumbnails generated for H.264 video
• CSS3 Transitions for albums and 1-up view
• Photo album thumbnails now “pulse”
• Thumbnails generated for all photo sizes (previously limited to 5000px)
• Support for aspect ratio thumbnails (including panorama)

Docs -

• Icons for PDFs filetypes
• Recent document includes more items
• Open in Office Client from SkyDrive now gives you the option to install Office 2010 trial using Click-to-Run technology
• Performance improvements to the Office Web Apps in IE9
• Details view now supports touch

Groups -

• SkyDrive Groups now appear in the left nav giving you one click access to Group Content

FUSE Lab’s Montage – Blending Social Media content to Create and Share a Visual Album of the web

Montage from FUSE labs is a flexible web-based service that makes it fun and easy to create and share a visual album of the web on the topics you care about. You can design your Montage around any topic you can imagine by adding content that pulls information from a variety of sources, including RSS feeds, Twitter, Bing News, and YouTube. (EDIT: At present Montage pulls from twitter, Bing news and Images, rss feeds, YouTube and Vimeo )

This is so cool ! Suppose you wanted to create a page with some topic you want. Montage does it in a jiffy using the Bing Search as it pulls news RSS feeds contents, photos, Tweets, Bing News, YouTube videos etc from the web. And the best part is you can design them to put it on a page very easily and these can be static or dynamic getting the latest which keeps on changing as the information arrives. Even you can add your content from your Blog while designing the page. And these can saved to the Montage gallery on the cloud. And this look very cool , you have to check them to get an idea.

And it also provides option to share, Retweet , embed them as a blog post etc

It reminds me a bit of Flipboard – an iPad App , which was in the news few months back but Montage looks more cooler as Montage allows us to design the contents and then can share, RT ,embed etc to further socialize it.  Give it a look.

At present its not available to all and only a select few partners have the ability to build and share Montages but anyone who wants to view a Montage can. There are lots of Montage gallery present for viewing and all these can arranged in many ways using Filters.

For example a Montage on Google TV looks like this -

 

And here’s another Montage on President Obama’s visit to India-

Looks great as if reading a magazine or ready for publishing , all created easily by you. And these can be dynamic as the content change as it gets more new content so one has to check it to experience it.

Check for yourself and experience Montage - http://montage.cloudapp.net/ 

You can also follow it on Twitter @getmontage to find out when Montage is available for you to create.

 

EDIT: Here’s  an interesting link from FUSE labs regarding Montage -

Montage & Project Seneca: Putting Together a New Search Experience

Richard Feynman wrote a book called “The Pleasure of Finding Things Out.”

He was talking about the thrill scientists get when curiosity leads to scientific discovery. It makes me wonder what “finding things out” means in a world of social media, large data sets, and ever richer online experiences—and how we can use them to create a search experience that is magical.

Two new FUSE projects explore new ways of finding things out – new ways to experience the kind of data that flows through social networks and the web. These projects are based on three questions:

How can anyone use search as a building block to create new things?

What easy creative tools work on the desktop and on a touch device?

How can we use social networks to teach search engines what we like?

Read the full article at Montage & Project Seneca: Putting Together a New Search Experience

Really the Bing Search has taken the search using Montage to a new level ,arranging the relevant results in such a beautiful manner.

 

EDIT : Now the Create option is live, you can create your Montage now! Give it a try !

Windows Phone 7 Cloud Integration and other features reviewed at AnandTech – One of the Best massive reviews on Windows Phone 7

We here in India can just read all the reviews now being made available on Windows Phone 7 as the sale of Windows Phone 7 begins in some parts of the World. There are many massive reviews being made available at various sites. I came across one of them at Anandtech – reviewed by Anand Lal Shimpi & Brian Klug .

 

This review is one of the best I have come across, filled with tons of big, clear screenshots with all the details. They have reviewed using the HTC Surround, Samsung Focus, and LG Quantum 7.

(Screenshots courtesy – Anandtech )

Some of the review snippets from the site -

Windows Phone 7 is a significant departure from anything Microsoft has ever done in the past, from a UI standpoint that is. In my opinion it’s more beautiful than anything else on the market today - including Apple’s iOS.

 Flipping through pages upon pages of square app icons just isn’t the most efficient way to do it. ………… When you unlock your iPhone or Android phone you’re dropped into what’s effectively your smartphone desktop. In iOS, that’s just a collection of app icons with a 4-icon dock at the bottom. Android gives you more of a modern desktop with icons and optional widgets. Windows Phone 7 effectively drops you into the first layer of a start menu - that’s your desktop.

Embarrassingly Smooth -  A more accurate codename for the UI would have to be Liquid - there’s just no other way to describe the interface other than fluid.

 

Check the complete massive, one of the best reviews, surely you will have to take some time to read the complete review.

The Windows Phone 7 Review at AnandTech

(Tip: Click on the ‘Print this article’ and get the complete review in one shot)

Also Read what others are saying about Windows Phone 7 in this collection of selected top news stories

Office 365 FAQs – Everything you wanted to know about Microsoft Office 365 beta

General

Q: What is Office 365?
A: Microsoft Office 365 delivers the power of cloud productivity to businesses of all sizes, helping to save time and money and free up valuable resources. Office 365 combines the familiar Microsoft Office desktop suite with online versions of our next-generation communications and collaboration services:Microsoft Exchange Online, Microsoft SharePoint Online, and Microsoft Lync Online. Office 365 services are easy to administer and simple to use—with the robust security, reliability, and control you need to run your business.

Q:  Why do I need Office 365?
A: In today’s competitive global market, businesses of all sizes need technology that enables flexibility and cost-effectively adds value to their organization.  Cloud-based services provide a way to meet these objectives. They deliver feature-rich productivity tools to users while helping to relieve the burden of managing and maintaining business systems—freeing up IT departments and businesses to focus on initiatives that can deliver true competitive advantage.

Q: What services and tools are included in Office 365?
A: Microsoft Office 365 includes: Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Lync Online and the latest version of Microsoft Office Professional Plus desktop suite.

 

Office 365 offerings and versions

Q:  Do you have a service plan for small businesses and professionals?
A:  Yes.  Office 365 provides a set of professional web-enabled productivity tools designed specifically for smaller businesses and professionals who do not have large IT needs. That’s why we made it easy to try, simple to learn, and straightforward to use.  Designed for organizations with less than 25 people, it’s free for the first 30 days and then just $6 per user per month. Learn more here.

Q:  How will Office Live Small Business customers be impacted by Office 365?
A:  Office 365 for small businesses will replace Office Live Small Business as the premier productivity service for small businesses. The Office Live Small Business service will continue to run as it does today through at least October 2011. As a valued Office Live Small Business customer, you will be offered 3 months free of the Office 365 service should you choose to transition your account to Office 365.  Nothing will change for Office Live Small Business customers now.  Please continue to use Office Live Small Business and we will notify you based on your decision to continue usage of our service when your account is ready to be transitioned, likely in the second half of 2011.  Click HERE for more information on Office 365 and Office Live Small Business.

Q:  What are your Office 365 service plans for enterprises?
A: Office 365 for enterprises is the best solution for organizations that are looking to move to the cloud, while staying in control of their IT services. We have a variety of plans to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes and varying IT needs. Priced from $2 - $28 per month per user, each plan has the same 99.9% uptime guarantee and includes the security and support you expect from Microsoft. Learn more here.

Q: What is the Office 365 for kiosk offering?
A: Many enterprise and medium-sized organizations have employees who spend most of their time away from a computer or in many cases multiple employees sharing a single computer—sometimes called kiosk workers. Getting kiosk workers access to email and helping them stay connected to the broader organization is still important. Office 365 has several subscription plans that offer value and flexibility for companies with kiosk workers, starting at just $4 per month per user. Kiosk plans can be combined with our Office 365 for enterprises plans for greater IT control and efficiency. See Office 365 for enterprises for more information.

Q: Is there a government offering for Office 365?
A: Office 365 for enterprises works well for most federal, state and local governments.  However, we recognize that some government organizations have additional regulatory needs.  Read more about the current offering for government organizations in the United States.

 

BPOS customers

Q:  As a BPOS customer, what does Office 365 mean for me?
A: Office 365 is the introduction of new productivity online services and capabilities. It provides new online platform capabilities related to the introduction of the latest underlying 2010 server software into Microsoft Online Services datacenters.  Please visit the Microsoft Office 365 transition center to learn more about how Office 365 will impact BPOS customers.

 

Purchase information

Q:  When can I purchase Office 365?
A:  Office 365 will be available for purchase in early 2011. Enterprise customers can contact a Microsoft sales representative or Microsoft partner directly for purchase details, or click HERE for information about volume licensing.

 

Office 365 Beta

Q:  Why should I sign up for the Office 365 beta program?
A: Microsoft uses a limited beta release to test services with real-world users before releasing them broadly. By signing up to participate in the beta program, it is an excellent unique opportunity to get an early peek into the new service offering, and you can help us build a better product by providing feedback. Because this beta program is limited, not everyone who signs up will be able to participate.

Q: Which countries/regions are able to participate in the Office 365 beta program?
A: There are 13 countries/regions eligible to participate in the limited beta release. These countries/regions include: Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States. However, we encourage all markets to stay up-to-date on Office 365 through this site, the Office 365 blog, and Facebook and Twitter

Q: What languages will be offered in the Office 365 beta release?
A:  The limited beta release will be offered in following languages: Chinese (traditional), English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish.

Q:  What Beta programs are being offered?
A: There are two different limited betas for Office 365.  Office 365 for small businesses and professionals is ideal for organizations that have 25 or fewer employees and no IT support. Office 365 for enterprises is ideal for larger, IT-based organizations.

Q:  Does everyone who signs up get access into the beta?
A:  While we will do our best to accommodate all interested and eligible parties, we have a limited number of beta spots available.

Q:  How do I sign up for the Office 365 beta?
A: Click the 'Sign Up' button to join the list of potential beta testers. You will be asked to provide your name and a valid email address so we can contact you when there is availability in the limited beta.

Q: What happens after I sign up?
A: You will receive notification from Microsoft that you are on the list for potential Beta service testers. If a Beta spot becomes available, we will contact you and provide instructions to complete your registration for the limited Beta.

Q:  What happens if I don’t get access to the Office 365 beta?
A: If a beta spot does not become available, we will keep you up-to-date with a monthly communication on the latest news and developments from the Office 365 beta team prior to general availability.

Q: What happens at the end of the Office 365 beta?
A: The limited beta program will end 30 days after Office 365 general availability. Then participants may choose whether or not to continue with the service as a paid offering.

 

Technical

Q: What are the system requirements for Office 365?
A: Office 365 will have new system requirements that customers and partners should note. Those requirements are as follows:
Operating System Requirements
Windows XP SP3 with RPC over HTTP update
Windows XP Home is supported but will not support federated identity
Windows Media Center edition is supported but will not support federated identity
Windows Vista SP2
Windows 7
Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger), 10.5 (Leopard), 10.6 (Snow Leopard)

Office Client Requirements
Office 2007 SP2 or Office 2010*
Office 2008 for Mac and Entourage 2008 Web Services Edition
.NET Framework 2.0 or later
Microsoft Lync 2010
Mac Messenger 9

Browser Requirements — Administration Center and My Company Portal
Internet Explorer 8 is required for Windows XP
Internet Explorer 7 or above for Windows Vista and Windows 7
Firefox 3.x
Safari 4.x

Browser Requirements — Outlook Web App
Internet Explorer 7 or above
Firefox 3 or higher
Safari 3 or higher on Macintosh OS X 10.5
Chrome 3 and later versions

Browser Requirements —Outlook Web App Light**
Internet Explorer 5.5+
Firefox 2+
Safari 3+
Opera

** OWA Light is designed to optimize the OWA experience for slower connections and alternative web browsers. For more information about the differences between OWA Premium and OWA Light, see TechNet: Client Features in Outlook Web Access

Q:  Office Communicator 2007 R2 is my standard currently.  How do I continue to use Communicator with Microsoft Office 365?
A: Office Communications Online is replaced by Microsoft Lync Online in Office 365. Microsoft Lync 2010 will be required with Lync Online.

 

Partner

Q: I am a Microsoft partner, what does Office 365 mean to me?
A: Please visit our Partner page for more information on how to get involved today.

 

Communications
Q:  Will Microsoft continue to update me about Office 365?   What should I expect?
A: Yes. Stay tuned to this site, the Office 365 blog, and Facebook  and Twitter.

(Source)

Microsoft Office 365 announced

 

Microsoft announces Office 365, a new service that brings familiar applications, including Office desktop software and Office Web Apps, together with SharePoint, Exchange and Lync in the cloud, for the first time.

“Office 365 is more than a new brand. It’s a progressive approach to cloud applications,” said Kurt DelBene, president of the Microsoft Office Division. “We designed Office 365 to work for a business of one – or a business of one million and one.”

 

“Chapter one in Microsoft’s history was about putting a PC on every desktop. Chapter two was dedicated to transforming the enterprise data center. Chapter three is, without a question, devoted to bringing the power of the cloud to our customers and partners. What’s exciting is that we’re writing the story right now – and there’s so much more to come.”

 

What Is Office 365?

Watch Chris Capossela, Senior Vice President, Microsoft Business Division; Betsy Webb, General Manager, Microsoft Business Division; Ron Markezich, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Online Services, and Takeshi Numoto, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Business Division, as they reveal a few of the productivity, communication and collaboration benefits of Office 365.

Source:http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/office/videoGallery.aspx?contentID=office365_demo

Office 365 Demo -

John Betz, Director of Business Productivity Online Services at Microsoft, demos Office 365 across the PC, phone and browser.

 

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/office/videoGallery.aspx?contentID=office365_demo

For more details , please check -

Microsoft Office 365: The Power to Think Big and Be Small, to Be Big and Act Fast

 

EDIT :

http://office365.com/  site goes live at noon PDT .  If you want a sneak peek (US only) go here - http://cot.ag/cGyk6O 

Follow @office365 The Official Microsoft Office 365 Twitter handle, follow for the latest info on the next generation of cloud services!

What is Software + Services?

Microsoft’s progressive shift toward Software-plus-Services is reshaping and transforming existing offerings—and informing the roadmap for the future. Take a look ahead at what a future of connected software and services could bring to the world. Applications and services that once stood apart become far more valuable when taken together. Business moves faster, ideas flow more freely and people grow more deeply connected.

 

Cloud Computing: Software plus Services

Cloud Computing: Software plus services

Just came across a Video from Microsoft Europe dated - January 20, 2010 on Cloud Computing -

Cloud Computing: Software plus services -

Microsoft’s progressive shift toward Software-plus-Services is reshaping and transforming our existing offerings—and informing our roadmap for the future. Take a look ahead at what a future of connected software and services could bring to the world. Applications and services that once stood apart become far more valuable when taken together. Business moves faster, ideas flow more freely and people grow more deeply connected.