The Hindu : Business : Microsoft offers online services for SMBs

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Microsoft offers online services for SMBs

Special Correspondent

Customers can access a suite of products from company’s website

— PHOTO: SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY

MANAGING IT NEEDS: George Paul (left), Executive Vice-President, HCL Infosystems, Rajeev Mittal (centre), Group Director-Small and Medium Enterprise, Microsoft Corporation India, and Stephen Elop, President, Microsoft Business Group, at a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday.

NEW DELHI: Microsoft on Thursday launched ‘Online Services’ in India that will allow its small and medium businesses (SMBs) and enterprise customers to access e-mail and conferencing solutions through Internet.

“Customers can access a suite of products directly from the company website and pay a use-based monthly subscription fee, and, thus, manage their IT needs efficiently and lower their capital expenditure. We estimate their IT spend can go down 10-50 per cent,” said Microsoft Business Group President Stephen Elop.

Microsoft, which would charge as low as $2 per user a month for the services, has also partnered HCL Infosystems, Infosys and Wipro to market and offer value-added services around the Microsoft Online Services.

Companies were now looking at adopting technology like ‘cloud computing’ as IT spends had been lowered in view of the slowdown.

The model worked well for SMBs which had smaller IT budgets, Mr. Stephen Elop added.

The Online Services include exchange online (for e-mail), office sharepoint online (portals and collaboration), office live meeting (for conferencing), exchange hosted services and office communications online (for instant messaging). It will be available from November 7.

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