Windows Intune 2.0 Beta Is Close, Reportedly

Microsoft is reportedly extremely close to kick off the testing process of its next generation Cloud-based PC management and security offering.

The Redmond company has yet to offer any official confirmation related to its plans, but according to Mary-Jo Foley, early adopters will be able to take Windows Intune 2.0 Beta out for a spin as early as next week.

Next week is also the software giant’s Worldwide Partner Conference 2011, and apparently, this year’s WPC will be used as the stage for the release of the first Beta development milestone of Windows Intune 2.0.

For those not familiar with this particular offering, Windows Intune offers customers Cloud-based management and security services for Windows computers at just $11 per machine per month.

The price also includes automatic upgrade rights to Windows 7 Enterprise, which is very sweet deal no matter how you look at it.

Recently, I told you about an initiative from the software giant designed to harvest feedback for version 2.0 of Windows Intune. The Intune team apparently set up a survey on Microsoft Connect, although I have not been able to access it.

Back in March 2011, I had the chance to talk to Gavriella Schuster, Windows Intune general manager of Windows Product Management about version 1.0 of the company’s Cloud-based PC management and security offering.

She confirmed to me that one way in which Windows Intune would differ dramatically from other Microsoft Windows PC management and security solutions was related to the frequency of upgrades.

Windows Intune 2.0 will be offered to customers by the end of 2011, Schuster told me in March, and additional new iterations of the offering will be provided at a very fast pace.

“With the Windows Intune cloud service, IT staff can remotely perform a number of essential management tasks including Microsoft updates, malware protection, and inventory management so IT and end-users can remain productive from virtually anywhere—all that's required is an Internet connection. With the Windows 7 Enterprise upgrade included in the subscription, customers can get the best Windows experience with Windows 7 Enterprise or standardize on the Windows version of their choice,” Microsoft said.

Posted in: Windows