Heads-up all Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 Subscribers!
Starting on May 1, 2023, customers who have a Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 plan will receive 100 print jobs per month per license. This change aims to simplify the adoption of Microsoft 365 with Universal Print. The benefit is permanent and will be automatically applied to the tenant without any action required from the customer. The Universal Print usage dashboard will be updated on May 1.
This change only applies to Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 subscriptions and is not available with other subscriptions like Microsoft 365 F3, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Windows Enterprise E3, Universal Print (standalone), or any educational subscriptions. Customers requested this change to simplify volume purchases for Universal Print, as tracking print jobs can be complex across subsidiaries and departments.
Adding more jobs to Universal Print with Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 subscriptions aims to facilitate an organisation’s journey to the cloud and ensure that print needs are met as they transition to the cloud. The new volume benefit does not apply to other subscriptions like Windows Enterprise E3 and E5, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Microsoft 365 F3, Universal Print standalone, or educational subscription licenses. The total pool of jobs available for any Universal Print licensee in a single month is 210,000.
What’s this Universal Print all about?
Universal Print is a cloud-based print solution offered by Microsoft as part of its Microsoft 365 suite of products. It provides a centralised way of managing printers and print jobs in a Microsoft 365 environment. Here are some ways that Universal Print adds more value to Microsoft 365:
Simplified Print Management:
Universal Print makes it easy for IT admins to manage printers and print jobs in a Microsoft 365 environment. It eliminates the need for complex on-premises print servers and provides a centralised way of managing printers and print jobs from a single console.
Cloud Printing:
Universal Print enables cloud printing, which means that users can print from anywhere, on any device, without the need for VPNs or other complex configurations. It also enables secure printing, where users need to authenticate before they can release their print job.
Cost Savings:
Universal Print can help organisations save money by reducing the need for on-premises print servers and associated hardware, software, and maintenance costs. It can also reduce print-related support calls by providing a self-service portal for users to manage their own print jobs.
Integration with Microsoft 365:
Universal Print integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365, providing a familiar user experience and a consistent interface for managing printers and print jobs. It also integrates with other Microsoft 365 services, such as Azure Active Directory, Intune, and Power Automate, to provide a comprehensive print management solution.
Sounds good! Can I have a worked example of the logistical benefit?
Before May 1st, a company with 1,000 Microsoft 365 E3 licenses had access to 5,000 print jobs, which were provided along with the Windows E3 license that came with Microsoft 365. However, starting May 1st, this company will now have access to 100,000 print jobs through their Microsoft 365 licenses.
Microsoft’s main objective is to make customers’ adoption of Microsoft 365 easier with Universal Print.
However, please note that this benefit is only available with Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 subscriptions, and not with Microsoft 365 F3, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Windows Enterprise E3, Universal Print (standalone), or any educational subscriptions.
As an example, let’s take a customer with the following licenses:
| 1,000 Microsoft 365 E3 licenses | 1,000 × 100 print jobs | 100,000 |
| 1,000 Microsoft 365 E5 licenses | 1,000 × 100 print jobs | 100,000 |
| 1,000 Microsoft 365 F3 licenses | 1,000 × 5 print jobs | 5,000 |
| 1,000 Windows E3 licenses | 1,000 × 5 print jobs | 5,000 |
| Total pool of jobs to be used by any Universal Print licensee in a single month | 210,000 |
Overall, Universal Print adds more value to Microsoft 365 by providing a simplified, cloud-based print management solution that enables users to print from anywhere, on any device, while reducing costs and increasing productivity.
Thanks
Richard
