Microsoft Launches New Products in PH

 

Microsoft introduced new products in the Philippines recently namely Surface Pro 7+ for Business, Surface Laptop Go for Business and Surface Go 2 for Business for commercial and education customers to support business productivity and continuity in remote and hybrid working environments. Surface Laptop Go and Surface Go 2 will start shipping today and Surface Pro 7+ for Business will start shipping from 8^th February 2021 via Surface Commercial Authorized Resellers Nexus Technologies Inc., Accent Micro Technologies Inc., Advance Solutions Inc., and ePLDT Inc.  

 

“Surface is more than a device — it is a strategic enabler for businesses. We are committed to designing technology that fosters productivity, creativity, and connection to empower people to be successful. We have spoken at length with many of our customers in the last year, listening to their journeys into remote everything. These discussions combined with extensive commissioned research and the work done by our Applied Sciences group, have helped us understand their rapidly evolving needs,” said Andres Ortola, Microsoft Philippines Country General Manager. “This was a critical part of our development process for Surface – ensuring commercial customer voices are not only heard but brought directly into our product development.”

 

Microsoft found four key learnings during customer conversations and from research:

1.      The future of working and learning is hybrid and requires more flexibility: Views on remote work have changed, 82% of managers say they will have more flexible work from home policies post pandemic, and 71% of employees want to continue work from home at least part time. People are sharing spaces throughout their home and are moving locations more throughout their days to stay productive and accommodate others.

2.      Connectivity is critical to uninterrupted business operations: With multiple people in a household now connecting from home, it is putting a strain on bandwidth - where people are using their cell phones more often as hot spots for online meetings due to poor internet connectivity.

3.      Camera to camera is the new face to face: Microsoft has learnt through research that people are feeling more empathetic to one another now, and through the lens of a video call they have a better view of life at home and even feel more valued and included as a remote contributor in meetings with everyone being in the same virtual room. 

4.      End to end security from chip to cloud is more critical than ever before: Organizations need their data and workflows to be secure to enable remote and hybrid work. Devices need end to end security features to enable the productivity needed to maintain business continuity.

 

Surface Pro 7+ for Business

 

Surface Pro is by far the most widely adopted Surface device across enterprise and education customers and Microsoft continues to be inspired by its customers and their use of Surface.

 

Surface Pro 7+ also comes with the latest 11^th Gen Intel Core Processors, 2.1 times faster performance, and longer battery life of up to 15 hours. The device offers the versatility people need to work wherever, whenever they want. In addition, with both USB-A and USB-C ports, Surface Pro 7+ offers the adaptability to dock into external displays and leverage the needed peripherals for a full workstation set up. Microsoft has also integrated front and rear facing cameras into Pro 7+ with 1080p full HD video along with Dolby Atmos speakers and dual far-field Studio Mics so people can be seen and heard.

 

Surface Pro 7+ will come with a lightweight, sustainable commercial packaging that is 23% lighter than the previous generation and made from 99% natural fiber-based material, of which 64% is post-consumer recycled content. These updates are also reflective of Microsoft’s continued commitment to sustainability.

 

The Surface Pro 7+ for Business is priced at PHP 72,490.00.00.

 

Security, Deployment, and Manageability by design with Surface Pro 7+

For the first time, Surface Pro 7+ will ship with Windows Enhanced Hardware Security features enabled out of the box. The devices can be managed and updated through the cloud from the first moment the device is turned on and throughout the device lifecycle without IT having to physically touch the device. Customers can have peace of mind in knowing they get great security without compromising employee or student experiences. Microsoft has accomplished this through tight integration between the UEFI (modern BIOS), firmware, and the Windows operating system stack and have shared their implementation of the Microsoft UEFI as open source on GitHub as Project Mu.

 

Surface will also use the latest Microsoft deployment capabilities like Windows Autopilot to enable devices to ship directly from the factory to people’s homes and be ready to go with security policies, applications, and settings applied. Windows Autopilot gets people online, connected, and productive as quickly as possible, and eliminates time consuming re-imaging and manual device set up for IT departments.

 

Finally, Microsoft recognizes the importance for customers to be in control of their data. Surface Pro 7+ will also feature a removable SSD for data retention, to support the security and privacy needs of commercial and education organizations. This feature, combined with Microsoft BitLocker protection, makes it easy for customers to retain sensitive data if something happens to their device.

 

Surface Laptop Go for Business

Surface Laptop Go has a beautiful 12.4” PixelSense touchscreen display[1], large precision trackpad and a full-size keyboard with 1.3mm key travel for an accurate and comfortable typing experience. The sleek, streamlined design comes in three durable and lightweight metal finishes in Platinum.

 

Surface Laptop Go is powered by Intel’s 10th generation i5 Quad-Core processor with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage[2] and is optimized for performance and battery life.  For a quick and secure sign-in, the Surface Laptop Go 10th Gen Intel® Core i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD has a Fingerprint Power Button with One Touch sign-in through Windows Hello. One Touch sign-in also provides fast, secured access to OneDrive for Business Vault files and more, so users can jump in quickly and be productive.

 

Surface Laptop Go feels snappy and fast taking full advantage of cloud connected experiences like Microsoft 365 and online storage. With up to 13 hours of battery life[3] plus Fast Charging, it will keep up with enterprise and education organisations’ users all day.

 

Whether learning or working, people are using their camera, speakers, and mics more now than ever before. Surface Laptop Go has a built-in 720p HD camera and Studio Mics, enabling classmates and colleagues to see and hear each other clearly. Omnisonic Speakers and Dolby® Audio surround users with amazing sound – whether on a video call, watching a movie, listening to music and more. To help users connect, there are both USB A and USB C ports, an audio jack, and the Surface connector.

 

The Surface Laptop Go for Business is priced at PHP 44,990.00.00.

 

Surface Go 2 for Business

 

Surface Go 2 has a thin, lightweight design with a 10.5-inch PixelSense display, improved battery life and a model with up to 64% faster performance than the original with 8^th Generation Intel® Core™ M options for the first time. It has added Studio Mics, dual microphone solution, to increase voice clarity and reduce background noise for Microsoft Teams meetings or video chats, and a 5MP front-facing camera delivers sharp video even in low light. Additionally, the new Camera app for the rear-facing camera makes it easy to scan documents and whiteboards – whether users are sharing notes from a meeting or turning in homework. Paired with Surface Pen, Surface Go 2 allows distance learners and remote workers to stay digital, while unlocking the power of natural ink for things like drawing diagrams, marking up documents or working through math equations. The Surface Go can be paired with a Platinum Type Cover.

Surface Go 2 for Business is priced at PHP 38,990.00.00.

 

Surface for Business Accessories

Complete the experience on Surface Pro 7+ for Business with the new and improved Signature Type Cover (Black color), Arc Mouse (Platinum color) and Pen (Black color) that complement for enterprise customers. For Surface Go 2 for Business, pair with the Type Cover (Platinum color). The Surface Dock 2 transforms the Surface device into a desktop PC with a 199W power supply to charge Surface devices, plus USB-C® ports that support dual 4K monitors at 60Hz.

 

Surface for Business

Surface for Business devices provides specific experiences and features built especially for commercial customers including enterprise-grade security, and leading modern management with Autopilot, Surface Enterprise Management Mode (SEMM) and Microsoft Intune. Windows 10 Pro comes standard on Surface for Business devices, offering additional built-in security and management features that lets our customers focus on running their business. In addition to the standard hardware warranty, Surface for Business customers get free Advanced Exchange - a warranty service with expedited device replacement, at no additional cost.

+++

The latest Surface for Business devices will be available in the following configurations in the Philippines:

 

Model	Suggested Retail Price (in PHP)
Surface Pro 7+ for Business 11th Gen Intel® Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD (Available in Platinum)	PHP 72,490.00.00
Surface Laptop Go 10th Gen Intel® Core i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD (Available in Platinum)	PHP 44,990.00.00
Surface Go 2 8th Gen Intel® Core m3 Processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD (Available in Platinum)	PHP 38,990.00.00
·        Surface Type Cover for Surface Pro (Available in Black) ·        Surface Type Cover for Surface Go (Available in Platinum) ·        Surface Arc Mouse (Available in Platinum) ·        Surface Pen (Available in Black) ·        Surface Dock 2	PHP 7,290.00 PHP 5,790.00 PHP 5,150.00 PHP 5,075.00 PHP 14,999.00

 

 

[1] Surface Laptop Go display has rounded corners within a standard rectangle.  When measured as a standard rectangular shape the screen is 12.45” diagonally (actual viewable area is less).

[2] System software and updates use significant storage space. Available storage is subject to change based on system software updates and app usage.  1 GB = 1 billion bytes. See Surface.com/Storage for more details.

[3] Up to 13 hours of battery life based on typical Surface device usage. Testing conducted by Microsoft in September 2020 using preproduction software and preproduction Surface Laptop Go Intel® Core™ i5, 128GB, 8 GB RAM Microsoft Surface® Edition devices. Testing consisted of full battery. discharge with a mixture of active use and modern standby. The active use portion consists of (1) a web browsing test accessing 8 popular websites over multiple open tabs, (2) a productivity test utilizing Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook, and (3) a portion of time with the device in use with idle applications. All settings were default except screen brightness was set to 150nits with Auto-Brightness disabled. Wi-Fi was connected to a network. Battery life varies significantly with settings, usage and other factors.

 

A fun, entertaining app allows users to commemorate birthdays in a more rewarding way

 

Leveraging the available digital tools and platforms to bridge their services to more Filipinos, mostly those that are in the far-flung areas, PCSO, in partnership with Minedomain, Inc., is set to launch 'Birthday Panalo,' a free and easy-to-use application with an entertaining game which will allow Filipinos to celebrate important dates in their lives, like anniversaries and birthdays, with exciting cash prizes.

Made for Filipinos, by Filipinos

Designed with Filipinos in mind, the Birthday Panalo app banks on the deep-rooted culture of Pinoys in putting value in commemorating special dates like birthdays and anniversaries. 

While millennials are the main audience targeted with the launch of the app, Seaver Choy, Minedomain Inc. IT officer shared that ease of use is one of the main factors their team considered in developing Birthday Panalo to make it enjoyable for users across various age groups.

"We want the millennials to love this game so we went for what millennials want most -- ease of use. We only put in the necessary elements for users to be able to do what they need to do fast and immediately," he said.

"We focused on the user experience when we were developing by having iterating designs that had constant user feedback. Birthday Panalo has gone through multiple design changes based on different user feedback across different groups," Choy added.

The core group which made and designed the Birthday Panalo app was an all-Filipino team composed of professionals from the country’s top universities including De La Salle University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and University of the East.

"Birthday Panalo app was built with resilience and celebrations in mind. We made it fun and easy to bet but still overly secure," Choy furthered, assuring users that the personal data and information they input within the Birthday Panalo app are protected according to industry standards.

Choy noted that the Birthday Panalo app has been tested by local and international cybersecurity companies like GLI, Bolton Labs, and Mantua, among others, to ensure that the app has the needed safety measures in place to avoid leakage of user data.

"Internally, we are also certified when it comes to how we operate and how we maintain the application," Choy said.

Celebrations made even more rewarding

Within the app which carries design elements signifying Filipinos, ‘Kapanalo’ or users of the app can place a bet on a three-part number combination consisting of a month, a day, and a year. If the same combination gets to be picked during daily draws, a user can win as much as P100,000 as a cash prize.

After downloading the app, users can easily sign up using either their mobile phone or email address verified through a one-time password (OTP) sent by the app. Once done with the registration process, users can proceed participating in draws for as low PhP 10 which they can pay via mobile wallets like GCash and PayMaya. Winners of lucky date combinations which will be notified via the Birthday Panalo app may claim their prizes at the PCSO main branch in Mandaluyong City, or have it credited on their respective mobile wallets.

The Birthday Panalo app will soon be available for free download via the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Kapanalo from all over the Philippines can also look forward to playing the Birthday Panalo game in select PCSO outlets nationwide in the coming months.

LONGi reaches new milestone as first solar brand to exceed 20GW in module shipments last year

 

2020 is a record year for LONGi after being the first solar brand to exceed 20GW in shipments of PV modules that year.

Since its foundation in 2000, LONGi has always been market oriented and customer focused, continuously developing high-efficiency, high-reliability and high-quality solar products and PV solutions in order to provide customers with value-added services.

 

Customer Focus

 LONGi has established global unified systems for customer complaint handling, service standards, quality monitoring and management processes. Customers can therefore be confident that any problems will be resolved in a timely manner.

Thanks to high-quality wafers, high-efficiency PERC cells and strict requirements regarding module materials and processes, LONGi modules consistently demonstrate excellent performance in third-party reliability tests, energy yield evaluations and client applications. LONGi works with B&V, TÜV SÜD, TÜV Rheinland, RETC and other institutions to build global pilot projects to evaluate the energy yield performance of its modules.

 In the PV Tech Bankability rankings, LONGi remains the only AAA-Rated module supplier for the fourth consecutive quarter in 2020. This continues to be driven by the company’s strong track record of being a global 20GW module supplier.

 

 Commitment to Innovation

 With a strong commitment to R&D and innovation, LONGi has a strong track record of being a reliable supplier with high-efficiency modules (Hi-MO 1 to Hi-MO 5). Because of savings in LCOE and BOS costs, coupled with their high energy yield, LONGi modules have earned wide recognition around the world.

 LONGi’s all new Hi-MO 5 bifacial module, based on the newly built M10 cell, with a maximum power of 540W and an efficiency of 21.1%, was launched globally this year for delivery to investors in utility-scale PV plants. Hi-MO 5 is expected to account for 30% of LONGi’s shipment in 2021. It has high power and high efficiency, and the open circuit voltage is consistent with conventional modules, so is the lowest BOS cost product for large ground-mounted power stations. The company’s new range of products reflects its commitment to delivering consistent value to global clients through innovation.

Microsoft PH is among HR Asia’s ‘Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2020’

 

Photo taken from HR Asia Media

Microsoft Philippines was recently named one of the ‘Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2020’ by HR Asia. The organization was recognized for its performance in workplace excellence, human capital development, and outstanding employee engagement.

 "This award means everything to us as an organization both globally, and here in the Philippines. We exist to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more—a mission that only comes to life through our people," said Jan Philippe Tanchi, Human Resources Director of Microsoft Philippines. “We’re proud to receive this great distinction and are committed to continue providing our people with an inclusive workplace and community that lives up to our values, and empowers them to be their best, most authentic selves every day.”

 HR Asia is one of the most recognizable and authoritative HR publications in the world. Their ‘Best Companies to Work for in Asia’ awards is the largest program of its kind in Asia and is held annually across 11 markets throughout the region, including Cambodia, China, Hong-Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

 This year, the awarding ceremonies were conducted virtually for the first time on December 31, 2020 due to the pandemic. The event highlighted the extraordinary efforts of organizations that exemplified dedication to their employees, especially in what has been a year of uncertainty and unprecedented challenges.

 "We must never forget the sacrifices by our own employees to keep the economy going. Since 2013 we have recognized companies that placed their employees front and center in everything they do. This year is no different. The recipients of this year's awards have shown not only are you the best companies to work for in Asia but more importantly, you are able to show empathy and care for your employees during the darkest moments of fear and uncertainty," said Datuk William Ng, Group Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Business Media International, the publisher of HR Asia.

The awards were judged by the affirmative answers of employees based on HR Asia's proprietary Total Engagement Assessment Model (TEAM), which surveys 1.5 million employees across Asia. TEAM uses a 5-point scoring scale from employee feedback based on the three areas of employee engagement:

 

• Collective Organization for Real Engagement (CORE) – culture and ethics, leadership and organization, and active initiative
• Self: Heart, Mind and Soul – emotional engagement (heart), intention & motivation (mind), and behavior & advocacy (soul)
• Group: Think, Feel and Do – collective consciousness (think), workplace sentiment (mind), and team dynamics (do)

Microsoft Philippines quickly shifted to a remote workforce in light of COVID-19, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of its employees early on. Throughout the pandemic, employees and their families were given free access to health & wellness resources to care for their mental well-being. In addition, they’ve continuously introduced engagement and enrichment programs and initiatives to maintain employee morale.

Microsoft was recognized alongside 20 other companies in the Philippines. See full list of winners here.

Teleperformance aids disrupted enterprises in the new digital landscape

“As the pandemic forces more people into a digital-only way of life, businesses must meet customers where they are today.”

This is just one of the points highlighted by the Teleperformance Customer Experience Lab (CX Lab) in a recently published white paper entitled Redefining the Customer Experience for a Post-COVID-19 World.

This is being proven everyday as both domestic and global companies have quickly began seeing the impact of the market changes on their bottom lines and just as quickly began recognizing that having a good digital transformation plan is essential for their sustainability. Clearly, organizations need an innovation engine to move them through a business transformation roadmap that are unique to their goals and objectives.

“Companies are operating in a dynamic environment where they have to be agile and responsive to client requirements, so they need solutions driven by Technology, Analytics, and Process Excellence teams to deliver change and results that would delight their customers,” said Mike Lytle, Teleperformance Philippines Chief Operations Officer, as he expounded on the company’s digital transformation framework and innovation methodology during their recent annual Leadership Summit.

The Technology, Analytics, and Process Excellence or TAP is Teleperformance’s business transformation framework – a methodology established to quickly identify transformation opportunities to adapt to the new environment. TAP does this through a systematic process of remote assessment agility with constant tracking, organization, and communication between the different stakeholders -- from the initial collection of project data and KPIs, to complete and collaborative presentations.

“Customer expectations are changing rapidly as companies adapt to the new normal. Businesses need an agile business partner that can help orchestrate contacts across traditional and digital channels,” Lytle noted. “With TAP, we aim to design digital-first, low effort experiences that prioritize the convenience of the customer, at the same time making it easy for our clients’ customers to reach a live agent for complex interactions.”

Putting customers in the center of the solution is key, added Lytle. “We first map and analyze all contact reasons and touchpoints. We look beyond the interaction and understand the customer’s journey. Together with our clients and leveraging our team of experts, we jointly determine what transactions and touchpoints are best orchestrated, enriched, simplified or automated.”

Moving clients from traditional delivery to smart operations, Teleperformance Philippines offerings for business-led and market-driven Digital Transformation solutions potentially improves business outcomes, with as much as 65.3% in savings.

TAP initiatives, for instance, have resulted in 13.4% voice traffic deflected to digital and self-service options through Digital Experience Optimization for a pay TV client. A TAP project also resulted in processing time reduction from 90 Hours to just 15 minutes through Robotics Process Automation for a US commercial airline company. Another case is a project that brought about a 17% improvement on Resolution Rate through Process Improvement for a Fintech start up in the Philippines.

According to Lytle, “the Philippines as a delivery location has grown significantly in terms of its ability to provide value to clients. Beyond talent availability, ready capacity and labor arbitrage. Teleperformance’s investments on talent, tools and technology enabled our operations teams to deliver Technology, Analytics and Process Excellence solutions that generate tangible outcomes for our clients business.”

To learn more about Teleperformance Philippines, you may visit their website at www.teleperformance.ph/en-us or their Facebook page at facebook.com/teleperformance.philippines.

Give yourself with a powerful yet lightest laptop in the world

 It's 2021 and there should be a mini celebration that you were able to survive 2020.  If you are still looking for something to make your life a little more convenient, less stressful and more manageable. It’s time to shift to the lightest ultraportable laptop in the market today -- Dynabook Portégé X30L-G.

Uniquely design for portability, Dynabook Portégé X30L-G, which only weighs 870grams is packed with features to enhance performance, connectivity, security and user experience.

This new device is said to have met and exceeded Microsoft’s Modern Device standard, the benchmark for modern computing devices.

Considered as "the world's lightest 13.3-inch fully-featured business laptop with Intel 10th generation processors. It’s beaten the last ultraportable laptop from another US brand a starting weight of 1.2kg, rising to 1.27kg.

This new Dynabook is a statement of power, durability productivity packed in a compact gadget. Its superior logic circuitry and operating system, Toshiba’s Portégé X30L-G  comes with a lot of salient features that would easily win the heart of a meticulous, techie, and educated shopper.

The slender design measures just 308.8mm wide by 211.6mm deep by 17.9mm thick, which makes it very handy and can fit into your small bags. Those who love their laptops in colors, shoppers can choose from its decorous colors such as Onyx Blue, black, and silver, with the Dynabook logo in one corner of the lid and silver hinges catching the eye when the laptop is closed.

Looks can be deceiving or should we say, don’t be deceived by its weight because this compact laptop has undergone the MIL-STD 810G testing and Toshiba can bet its name on its durability. It is tougher than you think. It has a fair amount of flex in the lid and a durable covering that protects it from drops, temperature, humidity, and scratches.

It also boasts of its 10th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors with up to 24GB of RAM. The display is a non-reflective FHD IGZO panel from Sharp. The 13.3-inch display is a Sharp-made FHD (1,920 x 1,080) panel with Dynabook's characteristic non-reflective finish. Maximum brightness is 470 nits, which should handle most lighting regimes in the office and at home.

The utilitarian design continues inside. While the short edge screen bezels are quite narrow, there are no claims for super-high screen-to-body ratios or headline features for the screen itself. It also consumes less power than a standard LCD because of the Sharp IGZO technology, which might be a contributory factor in the Portégé X30L-G's impressive battery life can last up to almost 10 hours. So If you are working and forgot your charger, you can still do your tasks since its battery life can last a dull day’s work or a full day online class.

For those who love to watch and listen on their laptops, this model’s speakers deliver audio through grilles on the underside of the front. The clear and reasonably loud volume gives the users an assurance that they will always enjoy using the speakers of this laptop. Headphones or external speakers are recommended if high-quality audio is required.

Dynabook Portégé X30L-G is highly recommended for kids and adults nowadays, especially that school and work are done remotely from home.