Two New Windows 10 Views that You’ll Love

two new windows 10 views that you ll love

IT support services for businesses

If you’re still not convinced if you should upgrade your computers to Windows 10, check out two of its new view features to sway your opinion.

Revamped Start Menu

Microsoft’s been indecisive about the Start Menu, relying it for many years, then making it go away with Windows 8, and then bringing it back in Windows 8.1. The latest version of this useful tool combines what the manufacturer’s learned from customer complaints and suggestions. The Start menu appears as an icon in its expected place, on the lower left of the screen. Click it, and you’ll discover a list of your most frequently used apps on the left as well as the live tiles of Windows 8 on the right. Frustratingly, you can’t control what appears on the left but you can drag and drop apps to appear as tiles on the right.

Task View

You probably set up your desktop one way when writing reports, such as by putting a Word document on the right, a browser on the left to confirm facts, and perhaps a thesaurus somewhere on the screen to look up synonyms. When you do accounting, a spreadsheet may appear on the right, a calculator on the left bottom, and a banking website on the left top. Different work tasks demand different apps and screen arrangements.

Task View avoids all this laborious opening and rearranging of applications and files. Just arrange your screen once, click the “Task View” button on the Task bar, and Windows 10 memorizes that virtual desktop. You can set up as many different screens as you want. When you want one on the main screen, click the “Task View” button again and all your virtual desktops display as smaller icons. Choose one and it becomes your main desktop.

To find out more about Windows 10 has to offer you or if you need help with IT support services for businesses, please contact us.

Microsoft Exchange Online Review: What Microsoft Exchange Online Can Offer You

microsoft exchange online review what microsoft exchange online can offer you

Microsoft Exchange Online has recently upgraded their interface and are now offering new purchasing options. Businesses and individuals can now choose to use Microsoft exchange online as a stand alone service, or use it as part of the Microsoft Office 365 package.

First, we will look at the features of only Microsoft exchange online, and then we will look at the features and options that come with the addition of Microsoft Office 365.

Microsoft Exchange Online Review

Basics

Microsoft exchange online is a hosted email service. It allows you to have your email, calendar and contacts in one place that is accessible on a large variety of devices. You will be able to share your calendar and your contacts. Microsoft exchange online has all of the most up to date features in sharing, allowing you to access collaboration features that will allow you to share calendars, contacts, tasks, global address lists, groups, conference rooms and delegation capabilities.

Storage

Microsoft exchange online features excellent storage potential. You will be able to store large quantities of messages. Exchange even allows users to send messages as large as 25 MB. In addition to excellent inbox storage, Microsoft exchange online features in place archives.

In place archives help reduce the inbox clutter that plagues us all by moving older messages into an in place archive for you. It also features an in place hold that will preserve edited and deleted mailbox items, preventing you from ever losing a draft. Unlimited storage is also available. Microsoft exchange online has users covered in storing and preserving communications.

Security

Microsoft exchange online provides excellent security for its users. They provide both anti malware and anti spam protects. You will not have to worry about virus infiltrating your computer or your inbox being filled with spam instead of business communications. Exchange online works to ensure that your time on their platform is always productive.

Voicemail

They even offer voicemail! Microsoft Exchange now has the option for users to purchase hosted voice mail. They can provide call answering and a dial in user interface. In addition, they can also provide company automated attendant capabilities. Microsoft exchange takes the time to go above and beyond typical email platforms.

Mobile Versitility 

Microsoft exchange can be accessed from any device you own with an internet connection. You can access Microsoft exchange on your Windows Phone, iPhone, Android or Blackberry devices. No matter what device you use, Microsoft exchange is there to support you.

Microsoft Exchange Online With Office 365

Although Microsoft exchange online is available as a standalone feature, it is also available as part of Office 365. Office 365 offers Microsoft exchange online as well as Office, Sharepoint, and Lync. These are additional features and programs that may be useful to your business.

Microsoft Office provides users with access to Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Sharepoint allows users to connect, organize, discover and build. Lync provides messaging, video conferencing and meetings and telephone calls all in one platform. With Office 365, you will able be send an email, build webpages, host video calls and more.

Which is right for you?

Microsoft exchange online is an advanced and up to date email platform that can provide you with excellent storage capacity, security, versatility in access and voicemail services. It can be used alone or as part of the larger Microsoft Office 365 with also provides Office, Sharepoint and Lync. Please contact us to discuss which option is right for you. At AE Technology Group, we look forward to working with you to move your business forward.

Why Use Lync: Top 5 Reasons to Consider Microsoft Lync For Your Business

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Why Use Lync?

Why use lync?Microsoft Lync has recently released updates to their program that make it an even better option for your business.

Microsoft Lync is a unified communication platform. It allows you to combine your instant messaging, video conferencing and meetings and telephone calls all in one platform. This revolutionary technology can help you streamline your business communications.

Here are our top 5 reasons why you should consider Microsoft Lync for your business:

1. High Quality Video Conferencing

Microsoft Lync allows you to hold high quality video conferences. Lync meeting allows you to see while you are video conferencing 5 different simultaneous live video streams all in HD. In addition, you will be able to share PowerPoint, applications, and screen shots in your video conference. This will allow a feeling of engagement in your video conference calls that can top real world meetings.

2. Lync – Skype Connectivity 

When you need to make a phone call or video call with a Skype contact, you do not need to switch out of Microsoft Lync. Microsoft Lync allows users to upload their Skype contacts into their Lync account. You will be able to send instant messages and have voice conversations with your Skype contacts all within the comfort of your new Microsoft Lync account. In addition, you can set up your personal status on your account settings to options such as – Available, Busy, Offline, and Away- and you will be able to see your contacts’ status as well. You will be able to combine your current Skype usage with your new Lync application.

3. Versatility 

You can use Microsoft Lync on any mobile device or computer that you like. Lync works on Windows PCs, Windows Phone, iOS, Mac and Android smart phones. No matter if your office uses Windows, iOS, or battles it out between the two, Microsoft Lync will work on either computer system. And no matter if everyone in your office all uses the same smart phone or everyone has different smart phones, Microsoft Lync will work on them all. Lync will streamline communication in your office and for your clients with its consistent and familiar layout on all digital platforms.

4. Unity 

Microsoft Lync will allow your business to streamline communication operations. You will no longer need multiple applications for instant messaging, video calls and video conferences. Now all of these can happen in one place. This will help simplify operations, training and IT support for your business.

5. Did We Mention the HD Video?

Don’t forget that you will be able to enjoy HD video with Microsoft Lync. Lync uses H.264 SVC and open standards. That means you are guaranteed a high quality video experience no matter what device you are operating Microsoft Lync on and viewing the video on.

Microsoft Lync You should consider Microsoft Lync for your communication needs. It provides high quality video conferences, Lync – Skype connectivity, versatility, unity and awesome HD video for your business. To learn more about how Microsoft Lync can help your business, please contact us. At AE Technology Group, we strive to provide the best service to our customers and are available to help your business thrive.

Microsoft Sharepoint Online and the ‘5 Pillars of SharePoint Governance’

microsoft sharepoint online and the 5 pillars of sharepoint governance
Sharing a milkshake

At first glance, the joy of owning Microsoft Sharepoint online may be a bit overwhelming due to its vast array of features, particularly in the absence of an overall implementation plan.

Often, SharePoint’s is seen in a “singular” context to provide more efficient—and secure— document management and collaborative integration throughout the organization.

Often overlooked, are the software’s other capabilities, such its ease in developing and maintaining the company’s Intranet; too, select vendors can be given limited access to team member documents during a project.

The overall success in launching, training and maintaining the SharePoint suite can be summed up by reviewing the “5 Pillars of SharePoint Governance” with ‘security’ being the first on the list; the other remaining Pillars (auditing, reliability, usability and supportability) are also key to securing content; this, through designating user permissions, for example, not to mention keeping the network up-to-date with the most recent patches.

One of the methods of overseeing the platform to make sure it is meeting a “business goal or objective” is to appoint one Business Owner of the suite who works with the technical team ensure the untapped potential of SharePoint will ultimately evolve toward meeting those objectives.

It’s an age-old problem of overcoming people’s resistance to change, and bringing SharePoint on board pushes the envelop for many users: they need to be shown “the value in the change.”

As Jennifer Mason points out on CMSWire:

“…the trick is to know where you want to be, to start small and keep growing. You may be using SharePoint as a way to centrally store documents today, but as long as you keep the forward momentum, who knows where you’ll be three months from now?”

Furthermore, it isn’t about getting it SharePoint up and running to it’s maximum potential from the outset. More so, the successful users started “small” with an eye to adding features when the modules were understood.

Today’s successful businesses understand how important it is to use the right technology to maintain their competitive advantage. Contact us to learn more about implementing cloud-service tools like SharePoint, or why more and more clients are coming to rely on us as their managed service provider.

Zarafa Hosted EMail Solution: All the Benefits of MS Exchange at Half the Cost

zarafa hosted email solution all the benefits of ms exchange at half the cost

hosted-email Cloud computing has changed the way businesses set up and run their IT services and e-mail solutions are no exception. Running a traditional MS Exchange server in-house means an investment in hardware and software which can approach $10,000, plus the annual cost of an in-house engineer to maintain, update, patch and back up the servers. A second option is the hosted email solution which requires no up-front investments yet provides stable Linux server platforms, with full MS Exchange features, at half the cost.

Let’s take a look at the benefits of a hosted email solution versus an In-House solution:

  • Hosted e-mail requires no equipment costs.In-house requires hardware and software upfront costs of several thousand dollars.
  • Hosted e-mail requires no additional staff.In-house requires a dedicated engineer to maintain the server.
  • Hosted e-mail requires no software or hardware upgrade costs, it’s all absorbed by the host.In-house requires constant software and hardware costs in order to have support access.
  • Hosted e-mail allows you to work anywhere, any time, on any device.In-house limits you to working in your office computer as well as some limited OWA accessibility.
  • Hosted e-mail allows you to work off line and it will sync when an internet signal is available.In-house has some off line connectivity in the office, none off site.
  • Hosted e-mail is completely maintained by the host, including patches, upgrades and backups.In-house servers must be patched and upgraded on weekends, backups performed as desired.

An alternate MS Exchange / Outlook solution requires finding a reliable yet fully compatible software solution with a look and feel interface which will not detract from productivity. The feature set should be as complete as the MS Exchange solution and the hardware / software platform should be robust and well documented. Zarafa fill all of these requirements and a great deal more.

Zarafa is an open source e-mail and collaboration service. It’s interface is almost identical to MS Outlook, making company transitions very smooth since the software requires almost no learning curve (compared to Outlook). Zarafa provides the same feature set as MS Outlook, including calendar, e-mail and contacts sharing. Reliability is provided by Linux and MySQL, and client ease of use and portability is provided by an Ajax web application.

Benefits of Zarafa e-mail and collaboration service:

  • Open source platform means substantial cost reduction.
  • Linux servers mean industry standard stability.
  • MySQL server for reliable and secure data storage.
  • No learning curve, interface almost identical to MS Outlook.
  • AJAX based web app, full mobile device support and ease of use.
  • Remote access via SSL.

Summary: With today’s cloud based technology you are no longer limited to in-house servers to meet your e-mail needs. Hosted email solutions such as Zarafa offer all the features of MS Exchange with the reliability of known platforms such as Linux and MySQL. As a bonus, cost reductions of over 50% make Zarafa a great choice for companies large or small. Contact us and we’ll be happy to implement a free 25 user trial so you can see the power of Zarafa hosted email solutions for yourself.