Microsoft India launches 'Online Services'

New Delhi, July 20 (ANI/Business Wire India): Businesses of all sizes, especially small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) can now save upto 50 percent of their IT-related costs with the launch of Microsoft Online Services.

Microsoft India has also announced a free trial period of two-months for the range of services, which include e-mail, collaboration, conferencing and productivity capabilities. Starting immediately, date customers can try the offering at http://www.microsoft.com/online at no charge, allowing them to experience the potential impact Online services can have on their businesses before the commercial launch in October 2009.

4 steps to cost saving with Microsoft online services

Step 1 - log on to www.microsoft.com/india/onlineservices Step 2 - Choose country and log in with Live id Step 3 - Add chosen services to shopping cart Step 4 - After you are notified that your service is set up, use your service.

Modelled on the 'pay-as-you-go' approach, Online Services provide affordability, enhanced productivity, and freedom from hassles of IT deployment. Online Services will allow businesses to stay in touch with customers, associates and teams across geographic boundaries round the clock and provide instant access to information, thereby enhancing efficiency and reducing costs.

"Over 80 percent of the businesses in India are SMBs that are increasingly looking to use world class IT for better business productivity. With tools such as email and collaboration becoming increasingly a must-have in this segment, the pay-as-you-go affordability and freedom from IT administration, Microsoft Online Services offers the much needed respite from financial and logistical hurdles. We encourage businesses to make the best of the free trial opportunity we are launching - and experience the powerful impact of Microsoft Online Services," said Sanjay Manchanda, Director, Microsoft Business Division.

"This launch also marks the second phase of Microsoft software plus services vision following the tremendous success we have seen of our hosted offerings including Hosted Exchange and Hosted ERP among Indian enterprises," he added.

Commenting on the launch, Mohammad Saif, Deputy Director, Consulting - ICT Practice, Frost and Sullivan, South Asia and Middle East said, "Lower TCO and capital expenditure, rapid deployment cycle, and a wide variety of offerings by various global vendors have constituted the driving force for on-demand softwares in India. Increasing awareness about the delivery model and flexibility of trial version have helped in allaying the apprehension of customers and is expected to play a major role in the growth of the on-demand software market, which is expected to grow from the current level of $40 Mn to $800 Mn by 2015, with SME fuelling the growth."

Microsoft Online Services is a part of Microsoft software plus services strategy which provides flexibility and choice of accessing and using software on premise and on Internet as a service.

As part of the Microsoft Online Services product family, Exchange Online (for e-mail) and Office SharePoint Online (portals and collaboration) are available separately or as a suite together with Office Live Meeting (for conferencing), Microsoft Exchange Hosted Services and Microsoft Office Communications Online (for instant messaging and presence).

In the coming months, Microsoft Online Services will also provide significant opportunities to a huge ecosystem of partners that will sell, customize and provide consulting, migration and managed services for Microsoft Online Services to Indian small and medium businesses. (ANI)