Businesses users will be able to get their hands on Office 2010 (both web and desktop editions) less than two weeks.Microsoft have officially announced that the code for Office 2010, SharePoint 2010, Visio 2010, and Project 2010 have been released to manufacturing. Pre ordering from Microsoft has been available since April 15th.

Volume licenses customers with software assurance will be able to download the new versions from the Volume Licensing Service Center on April 27. Those without software assurance will be able to access the download from May 1st.

In a first for Microsoft and following hot on the heals of Google Docs and Apples’ iWork.com website the first ever web based version of Office called Office Web Apps will be available to volume license customers at the same time. Microsoft have also announced plans for cloud based implementations of Office Web Apps as well as on premise versions customers can host in their own environment

Microsoft Office 2010 will officially be launched on May 11th in New York

As yet there has been no work on when the free consumer version of Office Web Apps will be available, despite being in testing since September 2009. Microsoft have said that for now the consumers, Office Web Apps will remain in technical preview until availability.

If you want more information about pricing or availability for your business please contact your account manager or a member of the Solsis Sales team on 01344 401500

Next year (March 2011) Senior Account Manager at Solsis, Steve Chambers will taking part in the Great Wall of China hike over 9 days to raise funds for the Institute of Cancer Research UK.

Below is a link to his blog detailing the challenge, which also has a link to his Face Book fan page, and – more importantly – his online sponsor site!

http://greatwallforicr.co.uk/

The website will be updated regularly with details of Steves preparations, training weekends, planned fundraising days, auctions and raffles and of course updates on his sponsorship.

You can also become a fan on facebook by visiting http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Great-Wall-Hike-Supporting-the-Institute-of-Cancer-Research-UK/352606454316 and promote it to you friends and families to give as much support and exposure as possible!

Feel free to take a look, and if you wish to make a contribution it will be much appreciated!!

The term computer virus is thrown around everywhere when computers become slow or behave strangely and like the term crash isn’t always used in the right context or to describe accurately what’s going on. Often used to refer to several types of things, viruses can include malware, spyware, and adware, though a true virus is an invasive program that is capable of copying itself and spreading from machine to machine.

Some of these are more annoying than destructive, but some can complete destroy the functionality of your computer. There are some basic steps in preventing the spread and infection of any type of malware:

• Use anti-virus protection software! If you are a GuardianMIS customer, you are automatically provided with our managed services software. We keep it up to date, manage the quarantined files for you, and run scans as needed! The most common anti virus in the home is AVG and Microsoft Security Essentials both of which have a free and commercial product, and in the business environment Symantec and McAfee
• Don’t click on questionable prompts! Many times users receive prompts to install things like “Anti-Virus 2009″ or “Microsoft Spyware Protect 2009.” Sounds legit doesn’t it!These are basically installation prompts for malware! If you do mistakenly click on something like this, hold down the power button until your PC goes off and call the helpdesk on 0845 600 2552
• Don’t open attachments you aren’t expecting or from someone you don’t know!
• If you can help it don’t have admin rights on your primary login (have a separate account for admin rights).

Even if you are well protected and take extra precautions, it is still possible to become infected. If you feel like your computer isn’t operating correctly, please contact us! We’ll dish up some chicken soup for your computer and you’ll be back to normal in no time!

We get a lot of phone calls from clients asking our opinion about which is the best option for mobile email, and although there are many SmartPhones in the wild the question normally comes round to “What should I choose Apple or BlackBerry.

Both the BlackBerry and the iPhone bring the very best in mobile email and internet capabilities to the mobile phone, but they accomplish this in very different ways.

Windows based SmartPhones like the HTC Touch HD and XDA use Exchange ActiveSync as does the iPhone. By adding ActiveSync to the iPhone and making it available to the enterprise market who run Microsoft Exchange email environments, Kerio Mailserver and even Google Apps for Business. ActiveSync is available from Exchange 2003 SP1 and later and uses a push style notification to send email, contacts, calendars, and tasks (Windows Mobile only) much like a BlackBerry without the need for a separate server.

BlackBerry’s use either the BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) or BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES). BIS is hosted by Research In Motion and provides limited mail push facilities but requires the user to sync their contacts and calendars but plugging their BlackBerry into a cable and manually syncing it. The BES on the other hand sits inside your environment and pushes the contents of your Exchange, Lotus Domino, or Novell Groupwise mailbox to your BlackBerry.

A BlackBerry is perfect if you send a high volume of email from your mobile device or want full integration with your office network, as some users find it easier to use an actual keyboard (versus the touch screen keyboard like the iPhone). While it does have other functions such as internet browsing, third party applications, music and video, it’s primary focus and strength is email and battery life. (with the exception of the BlackBerry Bold the BlackBerry battery is second to none)

While the iPhone also has exceptional email capabilities, its strength happens to be those other functions! The iPhone is also a full-featured iPod, allowing users to download both purchased and rented music and videos. The iPhone’s web browsing is also better, and thousands of third party applications can be downloaded for specialty uses. Personally I have both BlackBerry and iPhone and for plane travel I prefer my iPhone because of the entertainment features when I am on a long haul flight but for roaming and roaming charges the BlackBerry wins hands down.

Unlike our US counterparts who are limited to one provider for their iPhone we can get iPhones on o2, Orange, Vodafone, and even Tesco. It’s just this techies opinion but when you compare all the UK networks currently providing iPhone in my opinion o2 and Tesco (uses o2 Infrastructure) provide the best value, the best coverage and the best overall experience.

Our advice to clients is easy….. call us before making a SmartPhone purchase, so we can advise you on some things to consider, including your company’s technology resources, your service provider, and your functionality needs.

OK folks grab your USB cable and plug you iPhone into iTunes, Apple has released iPhone OS 3.1.3 to iTunes. It’s not show stopper and as updates go but it is an Apple update and since they are few and far between it must be necessary. Here is a brief overview of what the update contains:

• Improves accuracy of reported battery level on iPhone 3GS
• Resolves issue where third-party apps would not launch in some instances
• Fixes bug that may cause an app to crash when using the Japanese Kana keyboard

As usual with Apple updates there are no actual specifics that tell you what security issues have been resolved but we are sure they are in there.