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Microsoft readies online apps for business
"Deskless workers" turn to the cloud

By Elsa Wenzel

Published: Wednesday 09 July 2008

Microsoft announced its road map and pricing for web-based software suites built for big companies and growing businesses.

Enabling telecommuting, which many employers and workers increasingly favour, is likely to be a selling point for the productivity and "deskless worker" tools within the Microsoft Online Services line up.

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The move is part of Redmond's push to integrate online and desktop software, shifting much of the heavy lifting to the "cloud".

Stephen Elop, president of the Microsoft Business Division, said in a statement: "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."

For $15 per month per person, the business productivity suite offers an Outlook-integrated Exchange Online for email and calendars, Office SharePoint Online collaboration, messaging via Office Communications Online, and Office Live Meeting video-enabled web conferencing.

The software giant will charge another $3 per month per user for the Deskless Worker Suite, which combines flavours of SharePoint Online and Exchange Online. The SharePoint portal offers access to internal company sites and search. Email, calendars, security filters, and Outlook Web Access Light are included with Exchange Online Deskless Worker.

Microsoft aims to simplify otherwise complex corporate tasks managed by engineers or IT technicians. For instance, a WYSIWYG interface would enable an IT worker to give a new employee access to the company tools in a series of steps that could be shorter than setting up, say, a free Hotmail or Yahoo! email account.

Exchange Online and Office SharePoint Online remain in beta, with final availability set for sometime in the second half of 2008 in the US, when Office Communications Online beta is also due. Microsoft plans for roll out across other countries in 2009.