Microsoft’s new Office 365 cloud platform
A few weeks ago, Microsoft launched the latest Office 365 cloud platform. However, the Company is already planning to add additional hosted services to the core hosted exchange. These include SharePoint and Lync Online Office 365 platform. The next two new services that the Company will provide are the Dynamics CRM Online and Windows Intune, which is the management and security service of Microsoft PC. At the recently held conference, Microsoft announced about two more new services that will be added to the Office 365 suite. These are a hosted Microsoft Project service and a hosted Visio service.
Simplicity to small and medium sized users
Microsoft Business Solutions Corporate Vice President Michael Park announced the new services in passing. According to him, the reasoning behind the additional services, such as CRM Online, Project, and Visio was to simplify the ordering process for small and medium sized users. These users can order the suite with a single click of the mouse. However, the Company spokesperson clarified that these add-ons will have to be bought and do not form a part of Office 365.
Timing to match launch of Office 15
However, several partners mentioned about rumors being heard about the forthcoming Project add-on. According to these partners, the launch of Project Online and Visio Online would coincide with the launch of Office 15 wave. The Office 15 is the next client and server Office wares of the Company. The launch of this new client and server wave is expected in late 2012 or early 2013.
Microsoft Project Server
A new project management product known as the Microsoft Project Server is available from some of the hosting partners of the Company. Microsoft Visio is a commercial diagram application. A similar application known as Visio Services is already available with the SharePoint Server 2010. The application enables users to share and view Visio designs and update the designs from numerous sources. Some of Microsoft’s hosting partners provide the Visio services available as a component of the partner hosted SharePoint.
Microsoft Dynamics
Additionally, the Company plans to offer a new Windows Azure hosted version of the Dynamics NAV early next year. At the conference, Microsoft announced Rapid Start for Dynamics ERP that would assist partners deploy, configure, and customize the Dynamics ERP quickly. This new tool is expected to be released later in the fall, and will utilize the Azure hosted platform.