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Copilot Tips and Features: General Availability for SMBs Announced-Tech Tip for Jan 17, 2024

We are excited to share the news that as of January 15, 2024, Microsoft announced the general availability of Copilot licensing for small-to-medium-businesses for users with Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Microsoft 365 Business Standard. This is a subscription-based experience that includes a single AI experience, access to Copilot across various Microsoft 365 apps (Teams, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and other Microsoft 365 apps on PC, Mac, and mobile), with access to GPT-4 Turbo during peak times for faster performance, AI-powered chat with Microsoft 365 Copilot, and Enterprise-grade security, privacy and compliance. Along with the announcement, Microsoft also introduced Copilot Pro, new features, and are expanding the Copilot app and experience into Copilot GPTs, a Copilot mobile app, plus Copilot in Microsoft 365 mobile app, and Copilot Studio experiences.

screenshot of pricing for Microsoft Copilot

Copilot Availability for SMBs

These exciting new enhancements and changes from Microsoft expand Copilot access down from the 300-seat minimum for licensing (for SMBs) and immediately makes Copilot an accessible and cost-effective solution and option for small businesses everywhere. The updates from Microsoft included:

  1. Copilot for Microsoft 365 is now generally available for small businesses with Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Business Standard Customers who can purchase between one and 299 seats for $30 per person per month.
  2. They are removing the 300-seat purchase minimum for commercial plans and making Copilot available for Office 365 E3 and E5 customers (A Microsoft 365 license was previously required).
  3. Commercial customers can now purchase Copilot for Microsoft 365 through their amazing network of Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider partners.
  4. In December, Microsoft also announced eligibility of Copilot for Microsoft 365 for education faculty and staff.

Use Copilot to transform and boost your creativity and productivity in emails, meetings, chats, documents, on the web, and more! Be sure to follow along with us in our ongoing Copilot series to learn more about Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 apps.

Copilot Pro for Personal Use

Microsoft also announced the availability of Copilot Pro for individuals and families. The cost is $20 per user per month and includes access to Copilot across all devices and in the Office apps, priority access to the latest AI models like ChatGPT-4 Turbo, Image Creator for AI image creation, and the ability to create your own Copilot. Learn more about Copilot Pro for Personal and Family subscriptions, click here.

Reach Out to TechWise Group

Looking for overview information on Microsoft Copilot? Check out our ongoing Tech Tip series on Copilot: Microsoft Copilots Everywhere (Jan 3, 2024), and Copilot for Teams in Chat (Jan 9, 2024) and subscribe!

Hoping to get started on your Copilot preparations? To prepare for Microsoft Copilot, reach out to TechWise Group. We’ll help you get started. For Copilot for M365 overview information from Microsoft, also, click here.

Important Microsoft Announcements:

  • If you have not already moved to NCE licensing for your organization or if you have any questions about upcoming renewals, please contact us at gettechwise@techwisegroup.com to understand your options.
  • MFA is the best way to prevent cyberthreats. If you have not enabled MFA in your organization, let us help you put a plan in place.
  • Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 Extended Support ended on October 10, 2023. If your organization is still running these operating systems, please contact us to discuss your options.
  • Windows 10 will reach the end of support on October 14, 2025. The current version, 22H2, will be the final version of Windows 10, and all editions will remain in support with monthly security update releases through that date. Existing LTSC releases will continue to receive updates beyond that date based on their specific lifecycles. Please contact us to discuss your options.
  • Microsoft has expanded Copilot licensing for small-to-medium businesses (January 15, 2024). Reach out to TechWise Group to discuss your options.
  • Classic Teams client reaches end of availability. Microsoft extends time to July 01, 2024, for Admins to address any related issues.
  • April 1, 2024, Microsoft announced global changes to Teams licensing. Please reach out to TechWise Group with any questions.