Microsoft announced the Office 365 (will be online post 12 p.m. PDT) service today, which includes cloud based Microsoft Office, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online and Lync (erstwhile Communicator) Online services. The best part is the pricing for the services. The pricing will definitely pinch Google Apps which runs at $50 per user per year.
Microsoft Announces Office 365
With Office 365 for small businesses, professionals and small companies with fewer than 25 employees can be up and running with Office Web Apps, Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Lync Online and an external website in just 15 minutes, for $6 or 5.25 euros per user, per month.
Office 365 for enterprises introduces an array of choices for midsize and large businesses as well as government organizations, starting for as little as $2 or 1.75 euros per user, per month1 for basic e-mail. Office 365 for enterprises also includes the option to get Microsoft Office Professional Plus desktop software on a pay-as-you-go basis, for the first time ever. For $24 or 22.75 euros per user, per month1, organizations can get 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, and more.