Microsoft To Expand its Cloud Computing Base

Microsoft estimates the stuff can save customers between 10% and 50% percent

Mar. 4, 2009 11:30 AM

Microsoft is pushing its SaaS Business Productivity Online Suite, part of Microsoft Online Services, out for trial to 19 countries.

That will make Exchange Online and SharePoint Online available for trial in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom as well as the United States in April.

Microsoft estimates the stuff can save customers between 10% and 50% percent.

It's also releasing Office Communications Online for instant messaging and presence and its Business Productivity Online Deskless Worker Suite, a low-cost e-mail, calendaring and collaboration service for the occasional user that includes Exchange Online Deskless Worker and SharePoint Online Deskless Worker.

Subscription currently list for 2.56 euros or 2.01 pounds a month per user (about $3.20)

Microsoft says 40% of the employees at companies that have e-mail deployed don't have e-mail. It aims to fix that.

Microsoft Online Services was released in the US last fall.

Monday Microsoft said GlaxoSmithKline, the big pharmaceutical multinational, will deploy the Business Productivity Online Suite, including Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Office Communications Online, Office Live Meeting and the Deskless Worker Suite to its 100,000 employees worldwide.

The company expects to cut its operational costs by ~30% and create a variable cost model that will provide increased flexibility.

The Business Productivity Online Suite currently lists for 12.78 euros or 10.04 pounds per month per user (figure 16 bucks), which offers businesses a 38% discount compared with subscribing separately to the individual services.

Published Mar. 4, 2009— Reads 4,383
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About Maureen O'Gara
Maureen O'Gara the most read technology reporter for the past 20 years, is the Cloud Computing and Virtualization News Desk editor of SYS-CON Media. She is the publisher of famous "Billygrams" and the editor-in-chief of "Client/Server News" for more than a decade. One of the most respected technology reporters in the business, Maureen can be reached by email at maureen(at)sys-con.com or paperboy(at)g2news.com, and by phone at 516 759-7025. Twitter: @MaureenOGara

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