Microsoft announced today the newest implementation of cloud services in the MS Office platform, called Office 365. An enterprise-level suite of software and services for both small and large businesses, Office 365 promises to bring increased collaboration and productivity to the workplace using SharePoint Online, Exchange Online, Office and Lync. It is a fully browser-based solution that incorporates enterprise webmail, remote collaboration and document management in a service compatible with most browsers.
Office 365 for Small Businesses, the entry-level package, will get access to Office Web Apps, Exchange Online, Sharepoint Online, Lync Online, and an external website for $6 per user, per month. For larger businesses, Office 365 for enterprises offers all that and some more. For $24 a user, per month, the package includes e-mail, voicemail, enterprise social networking, instant messaging, Web portals, extranets, voiceconferencing and videoconferencing, and what’s possibility the most groundbreaking feature yet, pay-as-you-go access to Office Professional Plus .
While Office 365 won’t be available until next year, Microsoft will be testing the software thoroughly in many companies globally in an expanding beta program. After the rollout of the two base packages next year, there will be versions for educational institutions as well as integration with Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
The full press release can be found here.