IT Brief New Zealand - Technology news for CIOs & IT decision-makers
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At work with Office 365 for Business
Tue, 19th Feb 2013
FYI, this story is more than a year old

Microsoft recently announced worldwide availability of Office 365, a reinvention of the company’s flagship Office product line for consumers.

Designed to help busy people simplify their lives and get more done, the new offering includes the most complete set of Office applications, which work across up to five devices, including Windows tablets, PCs and Macs.

Banishing the company's traditional three-year release cycle, Microsoft revealed it will now deliver new features and services to the cloud first - keeping subscribers up-to-date while eliminating the hassles of upgrading.

“This is a major leap forward,” said Kurt DelBene, president of the Microsoft Office Division. “People’s needs change rapidly, and Office 365 Home Premium will change with them.”

In a simultaneous release for the company, Microsoft released a range of Office suite specific programs, including Office 365 Small Business Premium, Office 365 Enterprise and Office 365 ProPlus.

Office 365 for Business:

Office 365 for Business is designed to offer more power to the Office you already know, making it easier to communicate and collaborate with others.

Key features across the board include:

* Email and calendarsAccess your email and calendar from your computer, the web and smart devices* Office Web AppsCreate, store and edit Office docs online* Instant messagingConnect immediately with colleagues through online meetings* MobilityGet virtually anywhere access on nearly any device on the go* File sharingShare documents and collaborate with colleagues online* WebsiteLaunch and sustain a professional website for your business* Security and trustKeep your data safe and private with Microsoft

Choosing the right plan:

Microsoft is offering four different plans within their Office 365 Business suite, through monthly subscriptions.

Whether businesses require the basic Email plan ($5.10 per user/month), the Small Business plan ($7.70 per user/month) or the Midsize Business and Enterprise ($10.20 per user/month or $29.50 per user/month), Microsoft's aim was to cover all bases when it came to meeting every business demand.

For more information regarding Office 365 for Business and the accompanying plans, click here

Can Office 365 for Business benefit your company? Tell us your thoughts below