An introduction to Microsoft 365
There has been a lot of buzz lately in the internet world due to Microsoft’s recent announcement of a new software package that is completely hosted in the cloud. Yes, that’s right, Microsoft 365 will be hosted in the cloud; combines the latest version of Office, 2010, with its cloud-based services to improve collaboration for companies that are increasingly spread out across the globe.
First, an explanation of “the cloud,” in case you’re not sure what the term means. The cloud is basically the Internet; if something is hosted in the cloud, it means it’s hosted over the internet rather than locally on your own hard drive. It’s still stored somewhere, but in a place you’ll probably never see. Hosting data in the cloud has a number of advantages. It’s usually cheaper than buying your own hardware and maintaining it yourself. If you then choose to store your data locally and remotely, you have a backup that can withstand any accidents that later occur in your own office.
However, the main benefit of cloud computing is access from anywhere. With your own login, you can usually access the data from absolutely anywhere in the world. Putting your data in the cloud means you don’t have to worry about having your own computer if you need to access your information. You can choose to browse for a safe location to access it, but when you do, it’s easy to do.
One of the key points of using Microsoft Office 365 is that of greater collaboration. Obviously, its main competitor, Google Docs, proudly presents it as one of the benefits of its own service. You can see what others are editing and writing and work on it yourself, in real time, making it easy for a large number of people to collaborate and check a document without creating multiple versions of it, which can easily be lost or confused with one another. . When you’re done, you can bring your document into Office 2010 and make the more advanced final edits the software has to offer. Microsoft now offers this same service for its entire Office suite. With pay-as-you-go services, you can easily add services and employees as you need them, instead of regularly paying for unnecessary services.
Microsoft 365 also has more potential for sharing. Outlook 2010 connects directly to different social networks, and it’s easier than ever to share slide shows with PowerPoint Broadcast Slide Show. You’ll never be out of touch when you need to work again. Plus, the apps work with phones, not just the upcoming Windows Phone 7, but iPhones, Androids, and BlackBerries as well. There isn’t much better for long-distance collaboration than the ability to view documents on your phone; You’ll never have to worry again that you’ve forgotten something important right before or during a meeting, as information is constantly at your fingertips.
Truly, the only question that remains is whether or not the use of the cloud for storing and editing documents will take off. If it does, Microsoft has positioned itself well to take advantage of the trend when it emerges.
