Microsoft is heading deeper into the cloud with a new suite of online business applications that will be available to individual subscribers for a monthly fee.
The offering, dubbed Microsoft Online Services (MOS), is being targeted to those customers who might be more tied to their BlackBerry than their workplace PC. For $3 per month, a user can get access to Microsoft's new Deskless Worker Suite, which includes Web-based access to Exchange and SharePoint.
"Today we are taking an important next step in delivering Microsoft Online Services, and we're doing so with a broad set of Microsoft partners, that are crucial to bringing this solution to our customers," Elop said at the annual Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in Houston. "Microsoft Online Services is a key component of the software plus services initiative, and we're seeing customers, partners and even competitors embrace this flexible approach to the cloud."
Exchange subscribers will get e-mail, calendar, address book, anti-virus and anti-spam filters, and company e-mail access via Outlook Web Access Light, Microsoft said. Those with a SharePoint subscription will have access to SharePoint portal and team sites and search functionality.
Users can subscribe to the "deskless" versions Exchange and SharePoint together or separately, Microsoft said.
Microsoft is also offering a productivity suite for $15 per month, which includes Exchange Online, Office SharePoint Online, Office Communications Online for instant messaging, and Office Live Meeting for videoconferencing.
Partners selling the services will get a 12 percent cut of the first-year contract and 6 percent of the ongoing subscription fee, in addition to their own fees for setup and support.
Eight Microsoft customers are currently participating in a beta of MOS, while another four customers – including Nokia – are using MOS for messaging and collaboration, according to Microsoft. U.S.-based companies can sign up for the beta at www.mosbeta.com. Partners such as Accenture and Unisys have become authorized resellers of the online services. Microsoft has set up a Quickstart for partners wanting to get on board, with information at www.quickstartonlineservices.com.
Earlier this month, Microsoft announced that it would offer a subscription-based version of Office by late July. A one-year subscription will cost $69.99, and each subscription can be activated on three home computers.
source:- http://www.pcmag.com/
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