Microsoft is showing at its annual Ignite show how cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), mixed reality and quantum computers can be used to develop the future of business and address pressing global issues. The company also made a number of announcements showing how it is incorporating cloud, AI and quantum computers into its products. The company said it has created a new programming language, and put out new software services and smart collaboration tools. It's also bringing Skype for Business Online capabilities into Microsoft Teams. At the annual event, which this year welcomed over 25,000 business customers, Microsoft was able to demonstrate how Office 365, Windows 10, Microsoft Azure, Dynamics 365 and Microsoft AI can harness data, AI, hybrid and cloud technologies to evolve business process and innovate for the future.
New programming language
The company announced the creation of a new programming language made to exploit scalable quantum computers and deep integration of the programming language into Visual Studio, providing developers with debugging and other support and state-of-the-art simulators that can run locally or on Microsoft Azure. The tools will be available for free by year’s end. Developers can join Microsoft’s quantum community just by signing up online.
More services for firstline workers, education customers
Microsoft also announced the expansion of Microsoft 365 with two new software services aimed at firstline workers and education customers. The company also introduced new intelligent search capabilities, a vision for intelligent communications centering on Microsoft Teams, and security and IT management enhancements to help customers stay secure and compliant, including meeting the General Data Protection Regulation.
Microsoft 365 F1 brings together Office 365, Windows 10 and Enterprise Mobility + Security to empower the more than 2 billion firstline workers worldwide who serve as the first point of contact between a company and its customers or who are directly involved in making products. Microsoft 365 Education includes Office 365 for Education, Windows 10, Enterprise Mobility + Security and Minecraft: Education Edition. It gives students, faculty and staff what they need to create and collaborate, securely.
Microsoft said that its 365-powered devices, including new commercial Windows 10 S devices from HP, Lenovo, Acer and Fujitsu starting at USD 275, provide self-service deployment and simplified management. Designed for cloud-based identity and management, these devices are aimed especially at firstline workers, students and educators.
Intelligent communications
Microsoft also introduced what it calls a new vision for intelligent communications, including plans to bring Skype for Business Online capabilities into Microsoft Teams, along with cognitive and data services, making Teams the true hub for teamwork in Office 365, including persistent chat, voice and video.The company is using AI to create more intelligent search potential across Microsoft 365. New experiences include Bing for business private preview, which provides a unified view of personalized, contextual search results from inside and outside your organization.
New LinkedIn in Microsoft profile cards now provide the ability to see information from LinkedIn profiles in Microsoft apps and services. This new experience, rolling out now for first release customers in Outlook Web Access, SharePoint and OneDrive for Business, will give better insight about business relationships, from within Office 365.
Smart configuration
HP Inc and Lenovo will join Surface in supporting Windows AutoPilot by providing device IDs to companies on select orders beginning January 2018. Windows AutoPilot enables users to easily set up a new device complete with the company configuration and apps ready to go and removes the need for IT to touch the device or manage updates in person
More security
Finally, Microsoft 365 is delivering improved Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) features like enhanced anti-phishing capabilities; expanded protection to SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business and Microsoft Teams; and integration between cloud and on-premises identity threat detection capabilities.
