Microsoft has released a new version of Windows Intune -- its fledgling online service for managing PCs -- continuing its push into the brave new world of "cloud computing".
"Our vision for Windows Intune is big," Eric Main of Microsoft said in a blog post on Monday. "We want to take the best of the capabilities delivered through our on-premises solutions...and enable them through the cloud."
Microsoft released the initial version of Intune last March, and with the second version, the company has ticked a large checkbox in its roadmap: the remote deployment and management of PC applications. It's a welcome addition, but Chris Voce of research outfit Forrester believes the software is still better suited to small- and medium-sized businesses, as opposed to the large enterprise.
"Microsoft needs to continue filling out its feature set," he told Wired.
Apparently, it will. "Eventually, Windows Intune will deliver more management capabilities than the on-premises solutions but with less cost and higher productivity," Microsoft's boasted with its blog post
Intune is part of what Voce calls "a critical shift" in Microsoft's business. Traditionally, most of the company's revenue comes from licensing software like Windows and Office, and this means Redmond must endure the cyclical ups and downs of software sales. A subscription model can provide more regular revenue.
In addition to providing PC management tools over the net, Intune offers a subscription for upgrading machines to Windows 7 Enterprise and future version of Windows.
The shift also provides a level of relief for IT departments. A subscription is not only predictable revenue. It's a predictable cost. And since the service is provided over the net -- with regular updates -- it can alleviate the stress of planning for new versions of locally installed software.
