15 free SharePoint tools to make IT admins smile

SharePoint is a rich tool and offers extensive features for a better, customized and organized work flow. It enables to make processes easier and swift that enables organizations to make the best out of their employees. It is the best CMS that enables to manage huge amount of content effectively.

We live in a competitive world and latest technologies emerge to enable to deliver the best results possible. SharePoint is Microsoft's tool that enables to build richer attractive websites. It is considered to be the most popular collaborative tool that provides all the necessary tools to manage people and content effectively. This platform makes it easy for employees of an organization to share ideas and engage smoothly in knowledge sharing activities.

Some of the free tools which helps admins while customizing their websites are as follows:

1.Microsoft's SharePoint development Administration Toolkit 2.0 (for 2010 and 2007 versions)

Microsoft bakes a bunch of nice things into this little add-on, including a kit that generates test loads to check how well any SharePoint deployment runs. It includes another important addon for the Security Configuration Wizard so one can harden the profile of deployment through Windows Server 2008. The SPDiag 3.0 utility is most useful. It grabs a heap of statistics from all the servers in a SharePoint farm, interprets them and presents them in a very neat and customized report.

2.ManageEngine's Free SharePoint Health Monitor Tool

For smaller SharePoint deployment, this lightweight tool gives just an overall rollup of SharePoint farm's health status at a glance. The ManageEngine Free SharePoint Health Monitor fits this bill nicely, giving a conveniently efficient dashboard view where one can see the details about the memory, CPU and disk space usage for each server running SharePoint.

It can be drilled down into the SharePoint workload itself to see the response time, service status, Web server (Internet Information Services) process details and even SQL Server details such as buffer cache hit ratio, cache memory and free pages.

3.IntLock's CardioLog Analytics Free Edition

If systems have a quarter of a million page views or fewer per month, one can use this free tool to help which finds out the sites employees are using, how long they are typically engrosed with those websites and what areas of those websites are most used. It installs quickly and is compatible with all kinds of versions of SharePoint, even the latest new SharePoint 2013. One can easily upgrade to the paid version where the free edition has all of the same features, with the only differences being the page view tracking limit and allowing for web-based support.

4.Microsoft's SharePoint Designer (for 2007, 2010 and 2013)

Designer is like the FrontPage web design tool of the SharePoint world. One can use it to customize the look and feel of SharePoint websites, create and modify simple workflows and personalize a SharePoint deployment at ease.

If one have a large SharePoint deployment with multiple versions running at the same time, one must use the Designer version specific to the particular SharePoint edition.

5.Idera's Free SharePoint Admin Toolset

This is a combination of seven tools in one, a site monitor is present to check up on any SharePoint sites one manages, a space trends report to track using disk space on deployment for folders, libraries and websites, a handy accelerator that essentially rebuilds the database indexes on the SQL Server instance managing SharePoint deployment, a clean report to show how much SQL database space deployment is consuming, a permissions analyzer to show what users can access which specific websites and libraries, a smart tool to compare the configurations of site collections to see where they are different and a quick admin tool that brings together most frequently used links to SharePoint Central Administration. A very smart tool set to make tasks easier and smart way to deal with.

6.Idera's Free SharePoint Performance Monitor

To have a detailed information at what is happening under the hood of any SharePoint farm, this great tool Idera's Free SharePoint Performance Monitor is used. This tool gives a holistic overview of the performance statistics and metrics for SharePoint itself, the SQL Server instance on any given server and information about the host's operating system and memory configuration.

The tool also can be configured to send simple e-mail alerts when one of the performance indicators does not work. One can also monitor multiple websites at a time for their deployments and one can generate nifty graphs and charts about connections, requests, response time, pages, disk usage and many more.

7.McAfee's Network Discovery for Microsoft SharePoint

It is a good SharePoint-specific inventory tool. If one has overall responsibility for a network, one might not even know if one of departments has deployed a SharePoint server. The McAfee Network Discovery Tool for Microsoft SharePoint will scan the network to find SharePoint 2003, 2007 and 2010 environments and then display the results of its scan in a nice neat HTML report that shows in detail which servers have been deployed and what version they're running.

8.Axceler's ViewPoint for SharePoint

This is a great tool for visualizing in a convenient table form exactly which users have what permissions on any given site. This could be very useful in an auditing scenario or any environment where permissions can tighten without granting full access to users needlessly. One can choose to work from the graphical dashboard, to run and print reports to provide to management or to work through with any administrative tools. It works with both SharePoint 2010 as well as SharePoint 2013 deployments. It even requires full SharePoint administrator permissions to do its job properly.

9.Quest's Server Administrator for SharePoint

This great tool is suitable on SharePoint 2007 and 2010. It lets to see which parts of farm configuration are affecting the security, performance and availability of deployment.

It helps to build PowerShell scripts to maintain environment. It also helps with a migration to SharePoint 2010 from 2007, required to get to SharePoint 2013 as well, by showing which parts of deployment are ready for the upgrade and which are not. And it provides an intelligent rating to show what is most important to upgrade before one begin against what would simply be "nice to have."

10.SharePoint SUSHI

SharePoint SUSHI is an open source project hosted on CodePlex that essentially takes the most common administrative tasks and puts them in one convenient tool. SUSHI, which bills itself as a "Swiss army knife for SharePoint," stands for SharePoint Utilities with a smart and useful interface.

One can view the lists and sites of any given user can access, which is really helpful for looking at effective permissions, upload user photos as profile images, back up and restore sites; apply a theme to a group of sites with one click and much more.

11.Clockwork Software

It is SharePoint Migration Tool, reliable migration of documents from old ECMS to SharePoint 2010 or SharePoint 2013. From any SQL Server based ECMS (EDRMS, DMS, CMS) with files stored on a network drive or share. ECMSs such as Hummingbird DM6, DOCs Open, Worksite, FileNet etc.

- Migrate all versions and metadata (including managed metadata)

- Migrate to SharePoint libraries and folders

- Apply document level security if desired

- Currently in use on migration projects totalling about 2 million documents

- Good for small migrations with a cost effective pricing scheme.

12.Metalogix

It can migrate content into SharePoint from just about any source system. From one SharePoint version to another (2003, 2007, 2010, WSSv2 or WSSv3), from various Enterprise Content Management systems (eRoom, Stellent, Livelink) and from file systems, exchange public folders, blogs and websites.

13.PCVITA Express Migrator

It is SharePoint comprehensive too designed for enterprise to migrate content to SharePoint as part of SharePoint migration strategy that goes above and beyond other traditional SharePoint migration software, thereby allowing to have visually architected migration. It provides an effective and simple solution for enterprise to migrate their business-critical data from different repositories (Lotus Notes, File Share, File System, Public Folder and SharePoint etc) to Microsoft SharePoint Server. The SharePoint migration product granularly migrates content while keeping all the associated metadata & permission intact.

14.Vyapin

A powerful tool for developing SharePoint application for migrating documents, NTFS permissions, data and their associated metadata properties from network file shares, file servers and local hard drives to Microsoft SharePoint 2013, Office 365 (SharePoint Online), SharePoint 2010 and SharePoint 2007.

Here are the list of functions it provides such as migrate folders and files into SharePoint libraries from various file servers and network shares. Carry forward default file properties, including custom Office document properties to the respective documents in SharePoint. Automate entire migration process, with the ability to correct and rectify migration errors using the pre-migration validation tool. Migrate content from file shares to on-premise SharePoint servers and SharePoint Online in Office 365 (Standard) environment using a single application.

15.Tzunami

This Deployer tool offers a cost-effective solution for migrating and consolidating multiple content sources into SharePoint. It supports almost all versions of SharePoint, from SPS 2001 to SharePoint 2013. Automating the entire process of migrating unstructured content.

SharePoint offers multiple benefits for enterprises big and small. It is for this reason that enterprises are stressing on this particular technology for enabling them to function optimally. It enables to increase employee productivity and enables them to remain more focused with their work. It can function as an effective content management system, document management tool and collaborative platform. Businesses have profited much more with this awesome tool and it has enabled to enhance business initiatives. SharePoint development services are frequently used to reap maximum benefits.

We provide custom SharePoint development services. If you would like to speak to one of our certified SharePoint developers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

Should I migrate to SharePoint on Office 365?

Office 365 has become one of the largest bets of Microsoft. But it is essential for the end-user to ensure that whatever is being done proves beneficial for the business, brings returns and adds value. Hence there is a common dilemma as to whether one should migrate to SharePoint on Office 365. Before finding an answer to that question, let us understand some basics.

An Overview

As companies increasingly feel the need for information technology, it can be said that every company needs to fulfill some core needs, namely, Instant Access to People, Email as well as Collaboration on Files.

• Email: Undoubtedly, sending and receiving of mails is a requisite for all organizations. But it is not possible for everyone to afford the effort, time and expertise that go into maintenance of an infrastructure like this. Office 365 provides Exchange as a service, facilitating the execution of a number of activities without the need to worry about the infrastructure.
• Instance Access to People: So far as the world of the end users in concerned, instant messaging is quite common. However, when it comes to the workplace, there is hardly any means of communicating, which has become a challenge given the present need to operate from outside the workplace. With proper access to people, the requirement for internal mails is reduced. Lync as a service is offered, which renders instant messaging along with real-time presence. Even voice calls are possible and you can also create pre-planned online meetings with people internal or external to your organization.
• Collaboration on Files: The File Server or Shared Drive no longer lives up to the expectations of modern technology advanced users. A company server comprising a physical folder structure has documents stored within one folder or another, a phenomenon that hinders the ability to find or classify. Currently the workforce expects document access and has fundamental collaboration needs such as content approval. SharePoint as a service is offered by Office 365, ushering in the robust champion platform within the package. Since long, SharePoint has been utilized as a platform for building Extranets, Team Collaboration Sites, Intranets as well as Websites. It fulfills a number of fundamental collaboration requirements and also makes room for creation of other web-based solutions.

Why should you consider migration?

This is an obvious question. So, let us look into some of the benefits to be derived by migrating to SharePoint on Office 365.

• Cost: Migrating will definitely do away with a large portion of the maintenance cost. All servers, support systems, configurations along with anything else required to keep the maintenance activity in-house are eliminated and just offered as a component of this particular solution of Microsoft. There is in fact no need to buy servers or licenses.
• Updates: Office 365 is a great option if you want your workforce to be up to date with all latest versions, thereby benefiting from the latest integration and features. As a subscription model, automatic as well as free upgrades to both the products and services available are obtained, based on your plan.
• Hassle-free: It is indeed great for businesses if they do not have to worry about deployment, servers or other things that come with possessing in-house servers or your own IT department. Getting the service of instant communication, live meetings, emails along with a collaboration platform is a great thing.

Many people try to avoid migrating to this platform because of certain legal and compliance issues. However, most of the worries originate from personal beliefs. To do away with such legal concerns, you should look deep into the Trust Center, which is a storehouse of information. It should be realized that your content, depending upon your location, might be available with datacenters in other countries. Given the sensitivity of the documents, it might be difficult to consider migration. But the Trust Center offers Data Maps, thereby assisting with notifications once the data is transferred to another location. If you need an experienced hand with your sharepoint migration to office 365, you can hire a SharePoint development company in India who can help you migrate within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide sharepoint webparts development services as well. If you would like to speak to a certified SharePoint programmer from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

SharePoint 2013 – Comparison of Features with previous versions

SharePoint 2013 comes with powerful features which incorporate considerably upgraded search abilities along with new provisions for intranet-oriented searches, enhanced digital content management, web content usability as well as cross-site publishing. Let us have a brief overview of the new functionality and features of this new version of SP and compare it with older versions. 

  

New Licensing Model

Owing to the licensing changes in Sharepoint 2013, an “external connector” is not required by “external users”, as was the case for previous versions. This ensures substantial reduction of cost for clients because it facilitates access to SP solutions like external project collaboration sites, customer portals or websites by vendors, partners, customers or other outside users. 

 

Fresh Search Features

The FAST search technology has been integrated into the 2013 version of SP. As a result, the search functionality has been enhanced ensuring the following benefits:

• Continuous Crawl: The indexing and crawling components have undergone a major upgrade in SharePoint Search. A great deal of content could not be frequently crawled in SharePoint 2010 but currently it is possible to index content frequently. This is of great significance because files added within SP can be located instantly by the users.
• Query Conditions or Rules Engine: This feature facilitates the dynamic display of content by the web pages. Search has been incorporated with a new query engine which makes room for application of rules and display of results depending upon particular conditions. SharePoint 2010 did not possess this feature. As this feature has been incorporated in the latest SP version, it enables better control over sorting and displaying of results as per user attributes.
• Service-Oriented Page Design: This allows web pages to dynamically come up with content that is most relevant to the user, while facilitating storage of the content within a central repository. This was also available in SharePoint 2010, but in the latest version, this feature is more practical and efficient as it is loaded with new enhancements and web parts.
• Query Actions: These help to manage the presentation of the search results. Currently it is possible to specify the categories of records that will be displayed in search results using custom HTML. This could not be done in an efficient manner in SharePoint 2010.

Intranet-Oriented Search Advantages

Along with the search enhancements made through the introduction of fresh search features, there are certain improvements that have proved to be of immense significance to Intranet users.

• File Preview: It is possible for users to preview Microsoft Office files from the search results page. Optimization and sorting of search results can be done on the basis of users clicks. Because it is possible to preview files prior to opening, increasingly accurate search results can be obtained for the end users, a feature which was not available in SharePoint 2010.
• Deep Links: In case of SharePoint 2013, major sections and chapters from a file are displayed with the results. One can conveniently jump to particular sections without downloading the file and searching for the required content.

Enhanced Web Content Usability

• WYSIWYG Improvements: Content can be copied directly from Word and pasted within the SP text editor. The text gets displayed in the website's defined style, which implies that much editing is not required. Compared to the earlier versions, SharePoint 2013 allows more convenient editing of content and web pages.
• Friendly URLs: This features renders user-friendly URLs for all SharePoint pages as against the long URLs characteristic of SharePoint 2010.
• Flexible Branding: Non-SharePoint tools such as Adobe Dreamweaver can now be utilized for branding as well as page design.
• Video Embedding: With the help of this feature, SharePoint 2013 enables convenient embedding of videos from third-party hosting solutions. Hence the user can efficiently add videos to the sites.

Digital Asset Management

Companies which have great volume of videos, images or other content can now efficiently leverage SharePoint for organizing their assets. Images can be effectively stored in a central repository and can also be reused on pages across the site.

Cross-site Publishing

This aspect helps in storage and maintenance of content in a single or more than one authoring site collections. Again, this content can be displayed in one or more than one publishing site collections. This feature in the 2013 version of SP ensures consistency of content shared throughout diverse areas and sites. 

 

The above-mentioned features indeed make SharePoint 2013 more advanced and convenient to use than the previous versions. It also comes with other significant enhancements such as SkyDrive, increasingly robust work-flow platforms and improved site performance. You can hire developers from top SharePoint application development services companies in India who can help you build products within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide custom SharePoint development services. If you would like to talk to one of our certified SharePoint developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Introducing Nintex Workflow for Office 365

Nintex workflow for office 365 allows organizations as well as enterprises to extend the automation of business process to more and more people along with devices and places delivering workflow catering to the interest of every individual. It integrates a drag-and-drop workflow designer, rich features, as well as advanced connectivity to provide the customers with more flexibility along with power.

Wondering what it can do for you (the users)?

Well, here is a quick look at the at what Nintex workflow can do for you

Develop Workflows for a superior cloud platform

By extracting complete benefit of the new model of cloud app, Nintex has paved the road to effortless integration with office 365. This has indeed enabled the users to scale as well as develop advanced workflows on a strong as well as steady platform.

Automate the Process of Business

IT professionals and business users likewise will be empowered towards taking up a quick alongside an easy path to automate the process of business. The range is quite extensive, which includes everything from simple reviews as well as approvals to complicated integration across cloud services, external applications, data sources as well as social media. You can now leverage a range of actions offering a support to everyday processes across diverse industrial sectors as well as company departments like help desk, provisioning, travel requests, maintenance forms, expense claims, and leave requests, etc.

Strike a connection with an extensive cloud service range

This particular aspect allows the users to be at their productive best anywhere by connecting as well as integrating to a range of cloud services. This real-time service includes Twitter, Yammer, Box, as well as virtual machines along with several other applications. Users can also go ahead and quickly integrate web services with workflows without the hassle of writing codes. It also allows you to publish forms for collaborating with external partners, vendors along with the customers.

Add Enterprise Activities to Out-of-Box Actions

With the service introduction of the workflow for office 365, a one-stop has also been introduced catering to the diverse workflow needs of the users. This particular store comes loaded with multiple actions, which allow the users to develop document-centric alongside integrated workflows that are strictly SharePoint centric that further enables them to drive business. All you need to do is effortlessly integrate the workflow with external systems like web services, Microsft Dynamics CRM, as well as applications that are very much business relevant.

Get started in no time

If you have been wondering about its usability then, you will be delighted to know that Nintex workflow for Office 365 is not only easy to use, but also to install and manage. Additionally, you can also activate the application in reduced time possible and start working immediately. The new application model implies improved flexibility, productivity as well as scalability for a range of documents along with applications integrated within Office 365.

The Advantages

Let us have a look at the advantages it can bring for the users along with the enterprises:

• Its quick and easy – Empowers as well as allows the users to go for business process automation in no time through innovative browser based work flow designer that is easy to use.

• Smart investment - with this particular application, you can get to work in office 365 in real-time. You can also defend your investment through simple and easy deployment management thereby, avoiding the risks of additional costs of client software or infrastructure development.

• Easy Connection – you can easily connect Nintex workflow to Office 365, Lync server, Exchange server, web services, external systems as well as databases along with a range of other cloud services effortlessly.

What makes this particular application integration more delightful is the fact that its completely done in the application model that wonderfully syncs with SharePoint. Custom SharePoint development teams can leverage Nintex workflow and help you build projects within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide SharePoint application development services. If you would like to talk to one of our SharePoint developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Compatibility Report of SharePoint 2013 and HTML5

SharePoint 2013, which is the newest version of this web application development platform, comes with a number of beneficial features, out of which, compatibility is definitely a major one. However, before you go into the compatibility of this new improved platform and HTML5, let us have a look at the prominent features of the same.

SharePoint 2013 and its Features

To begin with, the platform facilitates enhanced user experinece by means of remarkable design as well as increased templates and layout capability. Additionally, fast search, improved work flow, e- discovery tools along with office web apps are also offered by SharePoint 2013. It is for this reason that business enterprises have an increased preference for upgrading from SharePoint 2010 version to the latest one. However, the infrastructure procurements must be considered when it comes to enterprise upgrades.

HTML5 and its attributes

HTML5, on the other hand, has made the developer's work easy primarily by virtue of its host of semantic features. This highly improved version of the Markup language offers several other tools as well as elements such as newer media as well as structural elements, attributes, form types, link relation types as well as the semantics for internationalization.

Compatibility between SharePoint 2013 and HTML5

The popular web application development platform now appears to be completely compatible with HTML5. The compatibility is best echoed by the presence of Channels, which allow designing different look and feel for the varying devices that are used for viewing the sites. Even the use of SharePoint sites on the mobile devices such as that of the iPods or Smart Phones has become quite common. These are also built using HTML5, hence, offer different views of SharePoint.

The compatibility of the development platform with HTML5 ensures that the Sites work equally well on any device and that they are optimized for the mobile browsers such as that of the Mobile IE9, Windows Phone 7.5, Android or Safari. The Office Web Apps pave the way for the documents and files to open on all of the these without necessitating the installment of Office on the devices.

Browser Compatibility of SharePoint

The latest version has witnessed a minimizing of the ActiveX controls to a great extent. The Drag, Drop and Multi File upload support leads to an excellent user experinece with Firefox and Chrome. The few office integration scenarios that are avilable are for the power users only, which further promises the average users with a commendable expeirnece with Firefox as well as Chrome.

This newest version of the platform also offers excellent mobile browser experience, thanks to the new contemporary views.

The contemporary view offers an optimized mobile browser experinece while the view is also available to the Mobile Internet Explorer Version 9.0 as well as the later versions like Windows Phone 7.5, iPhone iOs 5.0, Safari 4.0 or even the Andorid 4.0.

The Classic View, on the other hand, is rendered in HTML format while also providing backward compatibility for mobile browsers.

Finally, with the full screen UI view, a complete desktop display of the site is available on the SmartPhone devices too.

The ultimate outcome of the compatibility of this platform can be seen in terms of features such as menu button including that of the Site contents, sign out, close and switch to PC view. A navigation window, a tap-to-open links, automatic pagination of lists with over 20 items add to the alreday compatibility feature of the web applictaion development platform. With this platform, one can even create new list items and edit them too. For instance, a new task in a task list is created on the mobile device. The same can be edited in the list with the help of the Edit option. Custom SharePoint development will just get a whole new meaning with HTML5 coming into picture with SharePoint.

We provide SharePoint application development services. If you would like to talk to one of our SharePoint developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Migration Service for Office 365 SharePoint

SharePoint Online is best referred to as a group of web-based technologies and tools that enables your organization to manage, store, as well as share digital information. Developed on the 2013 server of SharePoint, this particular hosted service makes it easy to work on projects, store documents alongside data in a prime location, as well as share information. Now, migrating to this particular document management system web application is not easy. Prior to beginning with the process, it is important for you to involve in careful planning as you need to handle a huge volume of data that is very much valuable. Moreover, your organization or management will hardly tolerate any sort of downtime in this regard.

Therefore, the next big question that emerges in this respect is how to avoid the risks of losing data and ensure moving just the documents along with the data required during the time. In addition, the aspect of doing it quickly thereby, minimizing the impact upon the users as well as systems also needs to be determined.

With several migration tools available in the market, it can actually get easier than you can ever imagine. These unparalleled tools not only accelerate the entire process, but also simplify the same ensuring accuracy and rapid migration. Additionally, it also ensures that your migration ends up being cost effective catering to your uniqueand distinct needs. With the help of the migrating tool, you will be able to migrate Windows files, permissions, meta-data, work flows and content to Office 365 alongside Exchanging Public Folders while retaining the settings & customization. In addition, it also paves the road to smoother transition without affecting the business continuity. You can forever say goodbyes to time-consuming as well as complex processes.

How does it Help- The Unique Features of the Migration Tool

Here is a quick look at the unique features that make the tool stand apart in the market as against the manual process:

Effortless consolidation of data to save money and time – The software available in the market that enables an easy transition to Office 365 SharePoint Online allows you to group together all the important data scattered all over multiple source to a single source. This particular approach ensures lower maintenance costs as well as reduced complexity. You can move and transit data from the following sources:

• On-premises Microsoft SharePoint
• Microsoft Windows File Systems
• Microsoft Exchange Public Folders
• Microsoft Outlook

Fast Transition with Few Resources – You can easily and quickly take up the process of migrating several SharePoint libraries along with the lists at the same time making use of a multi-threaded engine to lessen project timelines alongside the costs.

Suits Distinct Business Needs and Interests Effortlessly – Office 365 SharePoint migration through the software available in the market also enables conducting bulk migration to speed up the projects as well as streamline the same. You can also take up granular or phased migration, which distinctly allows transiting just your need of the hour. The exclusive drag-and drop function allows you to make a selection of either individual items or the entire list with just a click of the mouse.

Controls Project Making your Way top Migration – The software also extracts the chaos and disturbances out of the project management task featuring real-time controls for scheduling alongside status reporting. You are actually equipped with skills required to successfully manage as well as execute the job of migration at a time that best suits your enterprise ensuring that its completely on schedule.

Complete Management of Metadata for Enhancing your Content – The migration software also allows you to maintain the metadata that is already assigned or assign new values to content during the process. This particular feature allows you to make complete use of your intellectual assets alongside improving the search accuracy.

Office 365 development tools offer a suite of cloud communication, productivity, as well as collaboration solutions that can be assembled together to execute distinct needs and interests of each organization.

We provide SharePoint development services. If you would like to talk to one of our certified sharepoint developers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

Is SharePoint integration, Windows Phone 8's biggest Enterprise Advantage

Windows Phone 8 that has been specifically designed to cater to the needs of both small and medium alongside large businesses efficiently closes the gap between the needs of an enterprise and the employees interest from a smart-phone. The device that is intelligently manufacture boasts of a huge software catalog along with a powerful and persuasive choice of standard functionality. While other phones might need to rely upon applications pertaining to social networking for additional software, Windows 8 goes on to present a feasibly functional device.

So, the potential question that emerges in this respect is that whether Windows 8 stands as a compelling choice for an enterprise phone?

The Application Question – Is SharePoint the Rescue Channel?

Be it for better or worse, the application counts for ecosystem have become the standard for smartphone reviews. It is in fact true that there actually are few applications pertaining to Windows Phone 8 featuring some blazing neglects. For instance, the omission of a native application of Dropbox stands to be a major one for a number of enterprise workflows. Moreover, the range of niche applications that are otherwise easily available on Android or iOS are simply isn't present in this particular device. Having said this, the device does feature some of the top players in the market like Facebook as well as Foursquare.

While, a number of top players are missing, Microsoft offers a powerful feature to the device that matches few platforms i.e. SharePoint along with native Office integration. Windows 8 can easily connect to the service of hosted SharePoint as a prime aspect of the email setup. Following the connection, the company account appears in a different location in a manner similar to desktop Windows. You can store and recover the files easily from the specific location. Additionally, the integration is also extended towards message boards and group calenders for a frequent user of SharePoint, which is available through SharePoint mobile.

Moreover, a mobile variation of Office also appears in Windows phone, which is actually incorporated in its basic stage. However, enterprises are less likely to face any major problems when it comes to simply viewing the documents and incorporating basic edits into the same. Additionally, the feature of adding comments to the document is also available. Though the use of the application on the phone might not be overwhelming, it certainly does not disappoint when it comes to reviewing and making basic edits to documents on the go.

The exclusive blend of the basic document reviewing and viewing along with SharePoint integration stands as the biggest enterprise advantage of the Windows Phone 8. The rapid spread of Smartphone and its adoption across the globe introduces a number of challenges pertaining to enterprise applications; however, the fundamental enterprise applications based on SharePoint are working quite nicely on the device. While there is always a room for more customized and advanced work spaces, the development is quite promising.

A small business enjoying the support of Office 365 could easily be able to distribute service manuals quickly to small consultancy firms, mobile support staff, along side offering invoice templates that can be filled up by the client. What appeals more is that all this can be done at ease without any dependency on development tools or requirement of writing code. Additionally, you also need not worry about the ecosystem of the mobile.

Is a Switch to Windows Recommended?
Well, it can be guaranteed that the Windows Phone is sure to offer a pleasant experience than might be actually imagined. The interface is astonishingly creative, once you get acquainted to the fundamental paradigm of horizontal scrolling. Additionally, enterprises relying heavily upon SharePoint can also benefit from the particular device. The hardware is quite matching to the market leaders, the OS is quite pleasing and user friendly. Furthermore, the integration does present interesting enterprise feature.

What delights the enterprise more is the fact that a Windows Phone usually starts from a range of $100, which comes around to be $200-$300 less than the Android and iOS competitors. Therefore, an enterprise looking forward to integrating a service group empowered by mobile capacity or field sales, this indeed comes up as a potential combination. Even, general users looking forward to investing in an Android or iOS can also consider to rely upon the device. The out-of-the-box and interface functionality of the device is indeed offering wonderful social networking, calling, and emailing options without the need of installing a list of applications for the support. You can hire developers from top companies providing SharePoint application development services in India who can help you build Windows phone applications in SharePoint within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide SharePoint 2013 mobile development services. If you would like to talk to one of our SharePoint developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.