Intune Update in Prerelease

Several updates to Windows Intune have been made as the online service expands. Major changes include additional capability to manage mobile devices, expansion of use rights for users with licensed Intune subscriptions, and special grants to use Intune available to users of the Desktop Optimization Pack. The change benefits organizations that allow employees to access company documents or applications from mobile devices. These organizations can be assured that some level of control and management can be maintained.

Intune to Handle Mobile Devices

Increasing use of mobile devices presents organizations with management challenges such as obtaining inventories of devices and protecting corporate data on the devices. To manage mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets today, Microsoft offers Exchange Server ActiveSync and System Center Configuration Manager, which have some overlapping but mostly differing degrees of management support for a variety of devices.

Windows Intune, Microsoft’s online subscription service that provides PC management, malware protection, and Windows upgrades among other benefits, has been updated to offer mobile device management. A free prerelease of the new version became available for testing in Apr. 2012.