Data#3 jumps on Windows 8

Data#3's managing director John Grant has revealed plans to roll out Windows 8 across the company's internal workforce in a bid to be the first Surface-equipped organisation in Australia.

Grant spoke to CRN about the company's new Victorian headquarters, which is on track to become one of the first facilities in the country to deploy Windows 8 solution to its employees.  

"We're a technology company, so obviously we want our people using the best technologies because they're out with our customers and our partners every day," Grant said. 

"We need to take advantage of new technologies that are going to be mainstream and an example of that is Microsoft's new OS. 

"...We were one of the first organisations in the country to roll out Windows 7 and we intend to do the same with Windows 8."

Grant said the company planned to roll out a combination of Windows 8 tablets, phones, laptops and desktop PCs to its employees.

"The thing about Windows 8 is that you get the same interface and operating system environment from the phone through to the tablets, laptops and PCs. So I expect we'll be purchasing examples of all of these devices," Grant said.

Grant declined to go into hardware specifics, but confirmed that Microsoft's Surface tablets would "certainly" be part of the rollout.

"The key point is; we use the technologies that we sell to our customers and Windows 8 is obviously going to be a part of that."

Grant did not give a specific timeframe for the rollout.