Microsoft Launches Online Version of Office

Posted 06/28/2011 at 8:59am | by Paul Lilly

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Microsoft today officially throws down the gauntlet at Google and other competitors in the online productivity software space with the global launch of Office 365, the company's newest cloud service. Office 365 is now available in 40 markets, giving users around the world access to always updated versions of Office, SharePoint, Exchange, and Lync.

"Great collaboration is critical to business growth, and because it’s so important, we believe the best collaboration technology should be available to everyone," said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. "With a few clicks, Office 365 levels the playing field, giving small and midsize businesses powerful collaboration tools that have given big businesses an edge for years."

According to the Wall Street Journal, nine out of every 10 office computers run Microsoft's software, making Microsoft's move into the cloud a bit of gamble for Redmond. There's a chance Office 365 could make a significant dent into Microsoft's boxed software business.

Small business plans costs $6 per user per month, while enterprise versions range in price from $2 to $27, depending on the feature-set.