Microsoft’s web-based Software Suites welcomed by users
July 30, 2008
Microsoft recently announced its plans for the web-based software suites that they have built for big companies. Microsoft aims to enhance productivity with its ‘deskless worker’ tools within the Microsoft Online Services line-up.
The idea behind the move is to push towards amalgamation of online and desktop software, and in the process, shifting much of the heavy lifting to the ‘cloud’. Microsoft’s web-based Software Suites have been welcomed with enthusiasm by users
Stephen Elop, the president of the Microsoft Business Division, said that Microsoft Online Services is a major element of the software plus services initiative. The business productivity suite offers an Outlook-integrated Exchange Online for e-mail and calendars, messaging via Office Communications Online, and Office Live Meeting video-enabled web conferencing.
All these services are available for a nominal monthly charge to a user. Users will also need to shell out a small sum every month for the Deskless Worker Suite that combines aspects of SharePoint Online and Exchange Online.
The SharePoint portal provides access to the internal company websites and search. The Exchange Online Deskless Worker includes calendars, Outlook Web Access Light, security filters and mail.
im not sure about all users welcoming microsoft’s new offerings. a certain segment will not be affected at all, the small business segment. microsoft’s productivity suite is not designed for this segment because all of its components (sharepoint, exchange and livemeeting) are unintegerated piecemeal products and will a great amount of implementation and management effort to set them up and keep them running. small businesses on the other hand want ready to use and low hassle products, which provide them “push button functionality”. web based alternative solutions to exchange and sharepoint are more viable for this segment because they offer all the relevant features, and are integrated ( hyperoffice has integrated collaboration, messaging and web conferencing capabilities) and ready to use from day one.