Microsoft has announced that it has launched its first major update for its cloud-based Office 365 productivity software since the service officially went live in June 2011. The update adds a number of new features to the program. One of the biggest is support for Windows Phone 7.5 for SharePoint Online, users. the recently launched "Mango" update to Windows Phone devices.
Enterprise users on the Mac platform will also be able to use Microsoft"s Lync program to text messages, share video and more inside Office 365. In addition, Office 365 business users who CRM or SAP software applications can now access those programs via Microsoft"s SharePoint Business Connectivity Services. Admins can also reset their Office 365 passwords via a text message or email.
Microsoft also launched a new infographic, shown above, that shows some of the stats of the companies that use Office 365. Microsoft says that 41 of the top 100 global brands currently use Office 365. That includes companies such as Campbell Soup Company and Groupe Marie-Claire. At the same time, the company announced that 90 percent of Office 365 users are small businesses that have 50 employees or less.
Microsoft has also launched Office 365 in an additional 22 countries. Those countries include Argentina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Egypt, Estonia, Iceland, Indonesia, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine and UAE.