Xbox Microsoft 365 Azure
The latest Xbox Microsoft 365 Azure coverage — news, analysis, and updates from the WindowsNews.AI desk.
NSW Rugby League Dumps Legacy PABX for Teams-Native Contact Center in Record Time
NSW Rugby League has replaced its legacy PABX system with a Teams-native contact centre using AnywhereNow’s Tendfor platform, with a proof of concept live within hours. The migration cuts costs, enables remote work, and deepens integration with Microsoft 365, positioning the league for enhanced fan engagement and future AI-driven capabilities.
Checkout.com's Intelligent Acceptance Powers Microsoft's EMEA Card Payments for Xbox, 365, and Azure
Microsoft has partnered with Checkout.com to process card payments for Xbox, Microsoft 365, and Azure across EMEA, leveraging Checkout.com's Intelligent Acceptance platform to improve authorization rates and streamline the payment experience. The deal uses Microsoft's Payments API to unify payment flows, targeting reduced friction and higher conversion in a complex regulatory and multi-currency region. This move positions Microsoft to enhance revenue protection and customer satisfaction while setting a precedent for AI-driven payments in big tech.
EU Commission Eyes June 2026 Deadline to Designate AWS and Azure as Digital Gatekeepers
The European Commission is reportedly readying preliminary findings by June 2026 that could force Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure to comply with the Digital Markets Act’s gatekeeper rules. A designation would impose strict interoperability, data portability, and anti‑self‑preferencing obligations on the two dominant cloud providers, reshaping enterprise IT strategy in Europe and potentially levelling the playing field for smaller competitors.
EU Regulators Poised to Label AWS and Azure as Digital Gatekeepers, Forcing Cloud Market Overhaul
The European Commission is reportedly set to issue preliminary findings as soon as the week of June 22, 2026, designating AWS and Azure as gatekeepers under the Digital Markets Act. The move would force the cloud giants to open their platforms, ensure data portability, and abandon anti-competitive practices, potentially reshaping the multi‑billion‑dollar cloud market.
NSW Rugby League Swaps Legacy PABX for Teams-Native Contact Centre by AnywhereNow
The New South Wales Rugby League has migrated from a legacy PABX system to AnywhereNow’s Tendfor, a contact centre and attendant console platform built natively for Microsoft Teams. The move streamlines operations, reduces costs, and provides advanced analytics while letting agents manage calls entirely within the familiar Teams interface.
AWS and Azure Face EU Gatekeeper Scrutiny Under DMA Beyond Quantitative Thresholds
The European Commission has opened three Digital Markets Act investigations into cloud computing, targeting Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure for potential gatekeeper designation. The probes will scrutinise data egress fees, proprietary lock-in, and bundling practices that critics say stifle competition. If designated, the two giants would face strict interoperability, portability, and anti-self-preferencing rules, reshaping Europe’s €90 billion cloud market.
Checkout.com to Process Microsoft Payments Across EMEA in Landmark Deal
Microsoft has partnered with Checkout.com to manage card payments for Xbox, Microsoft 365, and Azure across the EMEA region, aiming to enhance payment efficiency and compliance. The deal signals a strategic move to optimize subscription billing and customer experience in a key market.
IR Prognosis 13.3 Bridges Cloud Contact Center Visibility Gap with NICE CXone Monitoring
IR’s Prognosis 13.3 now provides end-to-end observability for NICE CXone contact centers, correlating cloud telephony with Microsoft Teams and Windows endpoint data. The update gives Windows IT admins a single dashboard for troubleshooting voice quality, agent experience, and network issues across hybrid environments.
UMB Begins Yearlong Migration to Microsoft Teams Calling, Replacing Legacy Telecom
The University of Maryland, Baltimore announced a yearlong migration of its telecommunications to Microsoft Teams Calling, beginning June 17, 2026. The phased rollout will replace legacy PBX systems with a cloud-based voice solution integrated into Microsoft 365, aiming to cut costs, improve mobility, and streamline IT support across the campus.
Microsoft Picks Checkout.com to Power Payments for Xbox, M365, and Azure in EMEA
Microsoft has selected Checkout.com as its primary payment partner for Xbox, Microsoft 365, Azure, and other products across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The deal aims to improve transaction success rates, cut processing costs, and provide broader local payment method support. Checkout.com's unified API and local acquiring network will streamline payments for Microsoft's vast EMEA customer base.
Azure Monitor Log Alerts Get Dynamic Thresholds for Anomaly Detection in June 2026
Microsoft announced Dynamic Thresholds for Azure Monitor Log Search Alerts, arriving June 2026. The feature applies automated anomaly detection to KQL-based alerts, learning normal query result patterns and adapting thresholds over time. This eliminates manual tuning, reduces false alarms, and improves detection of real issues in logs.
National Gas Deploys Automated Single-Session Azure Virtual Desktop for Secure Post-Divestiture Operations
National Gas, after its 2023 divestiture from National Grid, built a greenfield Azure environment with Capgemini, deploying automated single-session Azure Virtual Desktop for developers, data scientists, and vendors. The solution uses Entra ID, Intune, and zero-touch provisioning to deliver secure, high-performance VDI without legacy VPNs, setting a new benchmark for post-divestiture IT transformations.
Perigus Energy Deploys Cegal’s Cetegra GIS on Azure to Unify European Onshore Renewables
Perigus Energy has chosen Cegal’s Cetegra GIS platform deployed on Microsoft Azure to manage its multi-country European onshore renewables portfolio, covering wind, solar, and battery storage. The cloud-native solution aims to unify data governance, improve operational efficiency, and accelerate the energy transition through advanced spatial analytics and AI capabilities.