New Office 365 Features Address the Needs of Small, Medium-sized and Large Organizations

By Michael Guta TMCnet Contributing Writer

Microsoft (News - Alert) is making a concerted effort to push Office 365 and make it the platform of the future for individuals and businesses of all sizes. As companies start integrating mobile devices into their networks, the applications they choose must be available in the cloud so it can be accessed by everyone in the organization at anytime and anywhere. The improvements for Office 365 will include updates for Microsoft Lync Online, Microsoft Exchange Online and Microsoft SharePoint Online services.

The greatest benefit of using Office 365 is it gives organizations who can’t afford their own IT department a platform that is always up and running. The application is also very economical as it can be installed in up to five devices whether it is a Windows or Mac platform as well as different devices. The enterprise enhancements include social capabilities with SharePoint and Yammer, connectivity for presence with Lync-Skype (News - Alert), instant messaging (IM) and voice.

The new enhancements are available as of now in 69 markets and 70 languages, and by the second quarter of 2013 an additional 20 markets and 16 languages will be added.

"With Office 365, everyone from large enterprises to small businesses to individual consumers can now benefit from the power of Office and the connectivity of the cloud. This release unlocks new scenarios and delivers capabilities that far surpass anything available in browser-only solutions." said Microsoft Office Division president Kurt DelBene (News - Alert) .

The Office 365 platform is growing at a very fast rate among small and midsize businesses which has increased by 150 percent in the last 12 months. Large enterprises and government organizations have also implemented this cloud office application including the State of Texas, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Helly Hansen, Tesco, Toyota, Barilla America Inc., the City of Chicago and others.

The new set of Office 365 applications is designed to meet the needs of different business requirements and they include Office 365 ProPlus, Office 365 Midsize Business and Office 365 Small Business Premium. The new Office is available for everyone including academic institutions, businesses and consumers on a monthly or yearly subscription rate, and it can be purchased directly from Microsoft or authorized retail outlet or partners.

Edited by Brooke Neuman