Business Productivity Online Suite Overview

Microsoft Online Services are essentially an extension of Microsoft’s enterprise-class server solutions; but hosted and delivered as a subscription service where Microsoft run and manage the servers for you. Instead of you provisioning additional hardware and software and providing IT management support, Microsoft takes care of this for you with a standardised approach. Unlike custom outsourcing where special one-off requests can be managed (but come with a cost), Microsoft's approach provides a single software services architecture — a standardised design, a core set of features, and customer controlled standard configuration options. Doing so allows you to meet your needs while staying evergreen and minimizing costs.

A key component of Microsoft Online Services is the Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite. Microsoft’s Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS) is a set of messaging and collaboration solutions hosted by Microsoft. These online services are designed to give you business streamlined communication with high availability, comprehensive security and simplified IT management.

Featuring enterprise-class e-mail and calendaring, instant messaging, shared workspaces, and Web-conferencing, Business Productivity Online Suite provides the tools to help you work smarter, simplify IT management and reduce costs, with:

• Up-to-date software – all the benefits of the most recent versions of applications such as Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Exchange Online and Microsoft Live Meeting, without the need for timely or costly updates
• Greater flexibility – with secure access to e-mail, instant messaging and shared workspaces, employees can get down to work anywhere with an Internet connection
• Effortless deployment – with no installation process, hardware hassles, or day-to-day management requirements, you can focus resources on the pressing demands of your business
• Inexpensive monthly payments – supplied in much the same way as your telephone or electricity, Business Productivity Online Suite gives you enterprise-class communication and collaboration services on a subscription basis, without prohibitive upfront costs