Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) Introduces Enterprise Cloud, Says "Were Still Here!" (AAPL, GOOG, IBM, More...)
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Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) is getting their stuff together...or so they would have you believe. Today they've launched a new cloud-based subscription service today, veering off the beaten path of purchasing upgrades separately or relying on features to come pre-bundled with a PC. They recently debuted a slew of new smart phones that appeared sexy, easy-to-use, and functional. Shake up in upper management, you ask? Microsoft's got it.
Microsoft's new Office 365, which includes Microsoft Office, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online and Lync Online, will allow real-time collaboration between two parties "from anywhere on virtually any device."
Prices appear to be set at $6.00 [or €5.25] per user per month for small businesses with 25 or fewer employees. For enterprises, prices appear start at $2 per month for email and can move up to $24 [€22.75] per user per month for the whole enchilada. The full suite will allow access to Office Professional Plus along with e-mail, voicemail, enterprise social networking, instant messaging, Web portals, extranets, voice conferencing and videoconferencing, web conferencing, 24x7 phone support, on-premises licenses, among other offerings.
The suite is expected to be available to businesses starting in 2011.
A rep for Microsoft said that the offering will be more secure and reliable than what their rivals are offering.
But what are their rivals offering? Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) already offers a suite of products to businesses for $50 per user per year. Offerings include email, spreadsheet and other productivity tools. International Business Machines (NYSE: IBM) has their LoutsLive at $10 per user, per month, SalesForce.com (NYSE: CRM) has a Group Edition available for $25 per user, per month, and Citrix (Nasdaq: CTXS) has OpenCloud (which is available through a myriad of providers).
Continuing, on October 11, the company debuted their Windows Phone 7 to the media. The phone looks like a competitor to Google's Android OS devices and Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) smashing iPhone. The devices are aiming to pick up where the failed KIN missed earlier in the year. Microsoft fans will surely love it, but many argue that the phone is too little too late; it just appears to not be different or innovative enough to make a meaningful impact on the market. Things to consider? Apps, updates to the OS to fix bugs, market share, adaptability. Oh, and it’s not available on the Verizon network either.
Finally, Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie is leaving the company. The news was unexpected as, since joining the company in 2005, he was dubbed as an executive that would be more of a visionary, aiming to pick up where Bill Gates left off. Additionally, the news comes just a few short months after entertainment chief Robbie Bach left the company in May. Many might argue that Ballmer may be shirking the responsibility of building a strong executive team. On the other hand, with the announcement that they're not looking to fill the CAO position anytime soon, maybe Microsoft is aiming to take their company in a different direction.
Find out, as Microsoft is expected to release their first quarter earnings on October 28, 2010, after the close of the market!
Microsoft's new Office 365, which includes Microsoft Office, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online and Lync Online, will allow real-time collaboration between two parties "from anywhere on virtually any device."
Prices appear to be set at $6.00 [or €5.25] per user per month for small businesses with 25 or fewer employees. For enterprises, prices appear start at $2 per month for email and can move up to $24 [€22.75] per user per month for the whole enchilada. The full suite will allow access to Office Professional Plus along with e-mail, voicemail, enterprise social networking, instant messaging, Web portals, extranets, voice conferencing and videoconferencing, web conferencing, 24x7 phone support, on-premises licenses, among other offerings.
The suite is expected to be available to businesses starting in 2011.
A rep for Microsoft said that the offering will be more secure and reliable than what their rivals are offering.
But what are their rivals offering? Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) already offers a suite of products to businesses for $50 per user per year. Offerings include email, spreadsheet and other productivity tools. International Business Machines (NYSE: IBM) has their LoutsLive at $10 per user, per month, SalesForce.com (NYSE: CRM) has a Group Edition available for $25 per user, per month, and Citrix (Nasdaq: CTXS) has OpenCloud (which is available through a myriad of providers).
Continuing, on October 11, the company debuted their Windows Phone 7 to the media. The phone looks like a competitor to Google's Android OS devices and Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) smashing iPhone. The devices are aiming to pick up where the failed KIN missed earlier in the year. Microsoft fans will surely love it, but many argue that the phone is too little too late; it just appears to not be different or innovative enough to make a meaningful impact on the market. Things to consider? Apps, updates to the OS to fix bugs, market share, adaptability. Oh, and it’s not available on the Verizon network either.
Finally, Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie is leaving the company. The news was unexpected as, since joining the company in 2005, he was dubbed as an executive that would be more of a visionary, aiming to pick up where Bill Gates left off. Additionally, the news comes just a few short months after entertainment chief Robbie Bach left the company in May. Many might argue that Ballmer may be shirking the responsibility of building a strong executive team. On the other hand, with the announcement that they're not looking to fill the CAO position anytime soon, maybe Microsoft is aiming to take their company in a different direction.
Find out, as Microsoft is expected to release their first quarter earnings on October 28, 2010, after the close of the market!
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