As Apple Pay is released, how will it drive new iOS device sales?

On 14th July 2015, Apple Pay officially arrived in the United Kingdom, marking another big step in bringing UK users in line with their counterparts from across the Atlantic Ocean. Wi-Fi Calling was relatively slow to make it over here after an extended period in the USA, and it has also taken a while for Apple Pay to be activated on compatible Apple products. As of now, owners of iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 3 and the Apple Watch can simply add their credit or debit card to their device, and through Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, the mobile device works in the same way as contactless payment cards. After a few seconds, the payment is authorised and the transaction is complete.

As this feature was originally announced in an Apple press conference in autumn 2014, users have been steadily upgrading their devices in time for the launch. In terms of convenience, it removes the need to rifle through a crowded wallet to find the right card, and in an era when many people seem to have their phone constantly to hand, it’s clear to see how this will speed up times at the supermarket checkout. In terms of security, it also offers another added benefit over chip and PIN transactions – the authentication is carried out by taking a fingerprint scan from the shopper. To the consumer who enjoys looking a bit ‘flash’ when they reach the cashier, this new feature may well be the incentive they need to upgrade to an Apple Pay compatible device.

At the same time, there are drawbacks to the new system that may be ironed out over time. While it is possible for these transactions to be carried out without a maximum sale value, retailers will be limited to £20 (£30 from September) until they carry out an upgrade to their back office payment processing systems. In addition to this, there may be a limited audience of consumers who are willing to use the feature on the iPad Air 2 or the iPad Mini 3. A ‘phablet’ or tablet, is probably a little too large and cumbersome to pull out at the checkout, and tapping it on the card reader may look odd enough to draw a lot of unwanted attention!

As Apple Pay is released, how will it drive new iOS device sales?

Cloud storage could save your business

If you’re contemplating switching your storage to the cloud, then don’t hesitate. As well as saving money replacing your own servers, it could literally save your business.

Take a look at the server at your company. Is it invincible? Of course it isn’t, and although you might have back-up, a server failure can leave even the most prepared companies scrambling to get back up and running. With cloud storage, you’ll have much greater peace of mind.

Cloud storage simply cannot be allowed to go down; there’s too much at stake. So instead of a frazzled IT technician trying to keep the company afloat, you get an army of specialists protecting your data and making sure it’s ‘always on’. All you have to do is log on and not worry about the complexity of keeping your data intact, readily accessible and organised.

Of course you can support your company server with cloud back-up, which means even in the event of a disaster in the office you can run seamlessly from the cloud.

Cloud storage systems also have much stronger security than your typical company desktop, which means that sensitive data can be safely protected from malware attacks and viruses. If your company stores payment information, or even personal data for your customers, then you owe it to them and yourselves to make sure it is properly protected.

In-house security systems are an option, but again there are specialist systems designed to keep thousands of companies safe with cloud storage systems; it can be simpler and more cost-effective to place your sensitive data in their hands.

Finally, cloud storage also makes it easier for your staff to use crucial data at any time, from anywhere. If a critical file is sat on a company server then it can simply be out of bounds until office hours, whereas cloud storage means that anybody with the correct authorisation can simply log in, get the file and get back to work.

Of course there are many other benefits to cloud storage, including cost, but these are ways it could literally save your business. At these times, it will be priceless.

Cloud storage could save your business

The benefits of cloud computing for small businesses

At Premier Computer Services we recognise that it can be difficult for small businesses to stand out from their competitors without the financial and technological resources that larger corporations have at their disposal. Fortunately, there are many online resources upon which small businesses can capitalise to expand and evolve within their chosen field or industry. Of all these resources, cloud computing is one of the most efficient and affordable. So, if you have searched for creative ways to improve your small business operations then listed below are some of the reasons why cloud computing may be the ideal solution for you:

1 – Streamlined administrative operations

Cloud computing is an ingenious resource through which businesses can store and access their company data at any given time from any place they wish, using just an internet connection. Subsequently, this revolutionary process enables small businesses to rapidly and efficiently carry out all their daily administrative duties for a fraction of the cost that they would have previously expended on conventional offline methods.

2 – Disaster recovery and business continuity planning

Cyber-crime can be harmful for small businesses because they lack the necessary funds to pay for comprehensive security protocols and business continuity planning consultants. However, with cloud computing, all of your company data will be saved remotely and backed up on a regular basis. As a result, by investing in a cloud computing service for your company you can rest assured that your essential business data will be securely protected from cyber-crime, technical difficulties and any other unfortunate eventualities that may occur.

3 – Affordable IT support

Large corporations will often employ a team of IT support consultants to safeguard their business data at all times. Before the advent of cloud computing, small businesses would not have been able to afford this type of 24/7 IT support. However, by equipping your company with a comprehensive cloud computing package you will be able to acquire reliable and consistent IT support which will safeguard your business processes, administrative data and essential programs at any given time, from any given place.

The benefits of cloud computing for small businesses

IT support needs to watch out for Windows 10 upgrade scams

Whenever anything is available for free, there are plenty of people who will try to make money by ‘selling’ it. Perhaps along with an extra service or two, but also as a direct scam for the unwary. So, when the free Windows 10 upgrade offer starts on 29 July, expect your users’ email accounts to be hosed with spam offering ‘unique opportunities,’ ‘expert delivery’ and ‘bargain prices’ for this ‘once in a lifetime’ Microsoft offer.

Naturally, it will all be rubbish. Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users with a Pro version can upgrade for free, while businesses with volume agreements will be making their own arrangements. However, many workers and PC users won’t know this, and might be tempted to click on the link. This could lead to a direct payment page where people can give £10 for the luxury of being redirected to the official Microsoft upgrade site. Or, it could encourage people to enter their business credit card details or their Microsoft account log-in, so the scammer can use those for their own ends. Not only could that cause untold damage to the business, but should urge you to upgrade your email and spam filtering, if such messages are getting through.

Either way, make sure that your workers are informed of your company’s Windows 10 upgrade strategy, and explain what they should do if they see any tempting offers. Compatibility shouldn’t be an issue for upgraders, and the operating system requirements are broadly in line with Windows 8.1, so you shouldn’t need new hardware. If you don’t have an upgrade plan, then talk to us about managed computer services that can remove these issues and free your time to focus on running your business.

See our earlier post on preventing workers upgrading by accident (https://oswin.com/how-to-stop-upgrading-to-windows-10/) to stop users running consumer versions of Windows getting ahead of your policy. Even if you weren’t planning on upgrading, it should be on your calendar, as support for previous editions will soon fade away, and Microsoft’s security focus will be on the latest product.

When you do get round to upgrading your company’s IT systems, a full audit of your business IT requirements can help reduce the upgrade bill by transitioning to hosted servers and cloud services. We can discuss your needs and requirements to help you save money and improve productivity.

IT support needs to watch out for Windows 10 upgrade scams

How to stop upgrading to Windows 10

How to stop your business upgrading to Windows 10

Many smaller businesses don’t have enterprise versions of Windows 7 or Windows 8 installed, or lack Windows volume license agreements. This means your staff are probably using Pro versions of those operating systems, which, in turn, means they are seeing the new “get your free upgrade to Windows 10″ button. Do you really want your business getting this free-for-one-year upgrade without approval?

Depending on your office policy, you might be quite happy with knowledge workers upgrading and trying out the latest features, including Cortana voice assistant, the new Edge browser and an improved user interface. However, if your business runs some bespoke or very old applications, they might not be compatible with Windows 10, so you will want to make sure that everything works on a test system first.

Either way, depending on your company policies, you probably don’t want all staff upgrading on their own initiative. Fortunately, part of Microsoft’s June roll out of patches and bug fixes includes a way to stop them seeing this feature. You can read about the required patch and solution in Microsoft’s Knowledge Base (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3050267).

Once installed, there is a simple registry setting you need to make for each machine, or if you have network controls, you can make a group policy setting change; both are highlighted below.

To make the registry change, Set HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\OSUpgrade\ReservationsAllowed to 0

For the policy change, navigate to: Computer Configuration, Policies, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Update. Double-click on “Turn off the upgrade to the latest version of Windows through Windows Update” and adjust the option to “Enabled”. That should prevent your users seeing the Windows Update feature and prevent them accidentally or enthusiastically updating ahead of time.

While the new version of Windows 10 is pretty much compatible with everything your business now uses on Windows 7 or Windows 8, you can’t be too careful when it comes to users getting ahead of themselves. There is also the risk of the upgrade going wrong, or high demand putting their machines out of action for a long time, so be very careful what your staff are doing when it comes to July 29th.

How to stop upgrading to Windows 10

Multitasking in iOS 9 makes iPads better for business

At the recent World Wide Developer Conference, Apple showed a preview of the upcoming iOS 9 operating system for iPad and iPhone. One of the key features is split screen multi-tasking, with the Apple OS finally catching up with Android in that respect, but refining the user interface and making it more friendly for knowledge workers, high-volume communicators and users who need access to multiple sources of information.

While there was no sign of the much-rumoured larger-screen iPad Pro, this update will give users easier access to their information when it launches in autumn. Apps can be split 50%-50%, or narrow apps can take up a quarter of the screen while you work with a main app – ideal for notes or chat windows. The new iOS 9 keyboard also comes with cut, paste and other interactions on the top bar. This will make it easier for business users to work with the iPad as a utility and creation tool, rather than for content consumption and sharing.

Other features of the OS that are being improved include the pass code, which has increased to six digits for a little added security. Users can now attach documents to emails, helping to further boost business utility, while your regular contacts are now on a Proactive menu. You access this by swiping left from the home screen, and it’s context sensitive so knows who you usually talk to at that time of day, what apps you usually access and so on. This level of personalisation will make it easier to use an iPhone or an iPad without going through the apps, as most of us use apps or contacts in predictable patterns that iOS 9 will learn.

For sales types, mobile workers, or other travel heavy business people, the Proactive menu can also provide quick links to nearby essentials like petrol stations, hotels, restaurants and so on, making it a little easier to find your way around when out on a business trip. All these improvements will help nudge Apple devices a little more into the hearts of business users. Expect plenty more updates on these features as they enter beta before the launch.

Multitasking in iOS 9 makes iPads better for business

As the Windows 10 launch date is announced, what upgrade options are available?

Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 10 will launch on 29 July, as a free update to existing users. Already, an update for Windows 7 and Windows 8 allows early adopters to reserve a free copy. It will show users when the download becomes available via the free ‘Get Windows 10 App’. (http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/windows-10-upgrade?OCID=win10_null_vanity_win10upgrade). The free upgrade option is valid for one year from the launch date. Theoretically, the update will be a smooth move from the currently installed OS to Windows 10, without affecting any applications or data.

For business users, your existing copy of Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Ultimate will be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro. If your office has an IT support team or person, they will be able to offer advice on upgrading. If not, we can offer advice on migrating to the new OS, backing up existing data, ensuring your business IT security is sufficient and providing support beyond the update. Even though the process should run smoothly, with millions of different PCs and applications, there are bound to be a few issues.

To check if your PC is compatible, or powerful enough for Windows 10, you can use the ‘Check your PC’ option within the Upgrade Advisor section of the Get Windows 10 App. If your PC is already running Windows 7 or 8 smoothly, then it should run Windows 10 just fine, as there are no major, performance intensive updates.

Windows 10 provides business users with an easier transition from your PC to mobile device or tablet, allowing users to pick up where they left off. There is improved access to cloud apps, like Office 365 and cloud-stored data, better use of virtual desktop for busy multi-taskers and improved updates for better system and online security.

In terms of features, Windows 10 adds Cortana voice assistant and search to the desktop, which may or may not be welcome in an office environment. The new Edge browser is faster and more efficient than the retired Internet Explorer, but users can still work with Chrome or Firefox if they prefer. If you want a total system upgrade, then a whole new range of PCs and tablets will be launching, led by Microsoft’s updated Surface devices (https://oswin.com/microsoft-surface-3-and-surface-4-devices-add-to-business-choice/).

As the Windows 10 launch date is announced, what upgrade options are available?