Microsoft has announced the general availability of the next-generation Office 365 for businesses in India. Office 365 works across multiple devices, is social and integrates seamlessly with the cloud. It unlocks newer productivity scenarios and provides organizations with the desired IT control and management. Simultaneously, Microsoft also made available business SKUs of Office 2013 for on premise users.
The next generation Office 365 is the most comprehensive productivity suite with Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, Access, Project and Visio. In addition, it includes updated Microsoft Lync Online, Exchange Online, SharePoint Online and the all new Yammer. Office 365 can be installed on up to five devices for a single user under the Office 365 licensing.
“In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, the next generation Office 365 unlocks social and mobility scenarios that will allow businesses and individuals to take full advantage of the cloud. It gives them the freedom to do things, when, where and how they want,” said Bhaskar Pramanik, Chairman, Microsoft Corporation India Pvt. Ltd.
Since its launch in mid-2011, Office 365 is one of Microsoft’s fastest growing businesses globally. After only 18 months, one in five of Microsoft’s enterprise customers worldwide use the paid service, up from one in seven a year ago. The number of small and medium-sized businesses using Office 365 around the world has also grown by over 150% in the last 12 months.
The next-generation Office 365 is more social than ever. SharePoint integrates with Yammer and Lync to provide a social layer that brings people and teams together to collaborate and share organizational knowledge and information. The seamless capability of the suite across multiple devices – tablets, PCs, phones, hybrids, etc. makes the value all the more compelling.
Microsoft continued the wave of Office 365 momentum by announcing new customers – Lupin, Godrej Group, Tata Communications and AEGON Religare. These customers join others who have already chosen Office 365, including Tata Elxsi, FICCI, SIRO Clinpharm, Unilog, Gavs Technologies, Visaka Industries, ACME Tele Power, Dabur India, Adhunik Group, Infiniti Retail, to name a few.
Customers can purchase the next generation Office 365 directly from Microsoft or through an authorized retail outlet or partner. With the suite of solutions, companies can use Office 365 for USD 6-22 (about Rs 330-1,200) per user per month and it can be installed on up to five devices for a single user under the Office 365 licensing.
