Microsoft Online Services: A Possible Roadmap

Exchange, SharePoint, and Communications Online (Lync Online) will incorporate new versions of Microsoft’s server applications over the next two years. Shown here is a possible future evolution of Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Communications Online (to be renamed Lync Online), and Live Meeting through 2013. These services are often sold today as part of the Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS). Exchange, SharePoint, and Communications Online come in two variants: Standard, which are multitenant services where customers share hardware, and Dedicated, which offer each customer an installation on dedicated hardware in a Microsoft data center.

In mid-2011, Microsoft will release a new set of service plans called Office 365, which will replace the BPOS and include new versions of the Standard services as well as subscription licenses to the Office Professional Plus desktop software. The Dedicated services will each continue to be sold stand-alone.

Exchange Server 2010 became available to customers of the Exchange Online Dedicated service in Apr. 2010, roughly six months after the product’s release to manufacturing. The Standard (multitenant) version of Exchange Online is still based on Exchange Server 2007 but will be updated to Exchange 2010 with Office 365.