What’s New at Microsoft? Here’s the Latest Updates to Your Favourite Programs & Services!

Microsoft is constantly rolling out updates and innovative new features for its programs and services. For most busy business professionals, it’s hard to keep track of the latest changes; so let’s go over some of the major updates and features that have been released over the past couple months:

Windows 8.1:

August 12^th: Microsoft released an update to its Windows 8 operating system. Don’t get too excited, as the update was a minor one, mostly just an array of patches to fix some bugs that could have been exploited by hackers. One thing that’s also changed: the touchpad remains active when connecting a mouse, so you won’t lose those precious few seconds that previously frustrated Windows users worldwide.

Office 2013 SP1:

November 6^th: Preview versions of mobile Office apps, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, were released for Android tablets running the KitKat operating system. Apple iOS users already had access to these preview programs. Microsoft plans to release the full version of these programs in early 2015.

Lync Server 2014:

November 11^th: Microsoft announced that the latest version of its real-time communications server software will be rebranded as “Skype for Business”. The name chance will take place something during the first half of 2015.

Dynamics CRM ‘Leo’:

November 13^th: Starting in the first quarter of 2015, CRM will be available from Japanese datacenters.

November 5^th: Microsoft announced new pricing for CRM 2015, a tool used by businesses to better understand their customers and boost sales productivity. It now costs $65 per month per user (compared to the $125 per month per user that Salesforce.com, a similar service, charges). Existing Office 365 users only have to pay $45 per month for CRM 2015.

Interested in staying up to date on the latest updates that impact the services and solutions you’re using? Give us a call at (403) 457-1478 or send us an email at [email}. CTECH Consulting Group is happy to help you stay up-to-date!

Written by Carl Fransen

posted on November 19, 2014

Carl Fransen

My passion is to make my mark on the world in a positive and lasting way. I want to set an example for my son that his father can compete with integrity in today’s world, be very successful, and leave the world a better place for him.

Combining my technical/business-based education with a long career steadily progressing up the corporate ladder, I decided to build a company that held true to my values. So, I founded and designed the next generation of IT support firm: CTECH Consulting Group Inc. We are a completely automated, cloud-based IT company designed to compete against any other IT firm without the overhead. We promote a lifestyle to all our staff where they can work anywhere, at any time, access any information on any device that is relevant to their job, and collaborate with anyone they want to.