Microsoft Online Services TechCenter Launches
There is a new TechCenter today, check out the Microsoft Online Services TechCenter. Is this the future of IT?
The intro information includes:
"Microsoft Online Beta services provide your company or organization with key communication and collaboration services over the Internet. By subscribing to one or more of the Microsoft Online services, your company is connected to a reliable hosted services platform that reduces the need to deploy and maintain on-premise IT services.
The Microsoft Online family of services delivers the following suite of services to businesses:
- E-mail and calendar functions — Advanced e-mail, calendar, contact, and task management features are available to Microsoft Online users using Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 and Microsoft Outlook Web Access clients. E-mail services are delivered by Microsoft Exchange Online and include spam controls, virus scanning, and mobile device synchronization. Outlook Web Access enables users to access their e-mail from virtually any browser—whether in the office or on the road.
- Document collaboration and workspaces — Users can share and work together on documents with Microsoft SharePoint Online functionality. The SharePoint Online platform also enables you to create intranet sites to manage projects and project workflows, post calendar information, and assign tasks.
- Web conferencing — Microsoft Online users can hold online meetings with colleagues, customers, and partners in real time using Microsoft Office Live Meeting services. Office Live Meeting participants with Internet-connected computers can convene online to share documents, ask questions, work on a virtual "whiteboard," and chat with each other during the meeting.
The beta version of Microsoft Online is intended to allow companies to “test drive” its services and features. When you sign up for the service, your company is provisioned for a limited number of users and limited amount of mailbox and SharePoint Online storage. "