Microsoft Partnering 101


Microsoft Adds Video Calling to Lync and Skype

It is now possible for Microsoft Lync users to make video calls with users of Skype, and vice versa, Microsoft announced on Friday.

Microsoft and Barnes & Noble Call Quits on Partnership

The $300 million investment deal between Microsoft and Barnes & Noble is coming to an end, according to two 8-K Securities and Exchange Commission filings posted by the bookseller on Thursday.

Azure RemoteApp Reaching General Availability Next Week

Microsoft's new Azure RemoteApp service will be available for purchase starting Dec. 11, Microsoft announced Thursday.

The Case for Bringing Your Own Encryption to Microsoft's Cloud

The public cloud and third-party encryption offerings from Microsoft provide partners a key opportunity to do their customers a real service.

Report: Windows 10 Consumer Preview Coming January

A consumer preview release of Windows 10 will be issued sometime next month, according to a report Wednesday by veteran Microsoft watcher Mary Jo Foley.

Microsoft Ratchets Up Prices for Support Services

Microsoft has apparently raised the cost of its support services with little, if any, notice.

Windows Phone Market Share Slips in Latest IDC Forecast

According to a data released by IDC on Monday, Microsoft is set to end 2014 with an even smaller share of the smartphone market than it did in 2013.

Microsoft Rolls Out Dynamics GP 2015, Updates Dynamics AX

Close on the heels of this week's release of Dynamics CRM 2015, Microsoft on Tuesday announced two more updates to its Dynamics enterprise resource planning (ERP) line.

Microsoft Bolsters Mobile E-Mail Efforts with Acompli Buy

Microsoft on Monday acquired Acompli, a San Francisco-based startup that develops iOS and Android applications combining e-mail, calendar, contacts and search capabilities.

Dynamics CRM 2015 Hits General Availability

Microsoft on Sunday announced the release of Dynamics CRM 2015, which for the first time includes integration with the company's "Cortana" voice-activated personal assistant technology.

Microsoft Gives Its Cloud-in-a-Box Vision a Second Try

The first Azure appliance debuted to much fanfare at the 2010 Worldwide Partner Conference, only to fade from the spotlight almost immediately after. Four years later, Microsoft is reviving its earlier plans with the new Cloud Platform System.

Microsoft Sheds More Light on Upcoming Office 365 Features

Major new feature additions are in the pipeline for Office 365, some of which were demonstrated at last week's Live! 360/SharePoint Live! conference in Orlando, Fla.

Windows 10 Bringing Changes to Windows Store App Management

Windows Store management capabilities will arrive "in the coming months" for organizations using Windows 10 apps, Microsoft said Thursday.

Microsoft: Unknown Flaw Caused Hours-Long Azure Outage

Microsoft on Thursday issued a preliminary explanation for the widespread outages that hit its Azure cloud service on Tuesday evening.

AWS Partner Program Makes Room for MSPs, SaaS Providers

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Inc. recently announced several enhancements to its partner network, including an expansion of partner resources and the addition of programs aimed at managed services providers and SaaS-focused partners.