Introduction

Microsoft hosts the Microsoft Online Services, business services that offer productivity, communications, and collaboration features similar to those available in on-premises Microsoft server applications. The Microsoft Online Services compete with services from Cisco, Google, Salesforce.com, and hosting partners who offer their own services based on Microsoft software products. The four most prominent Microsoft Online Services, which are sold both stand-alone and in a package called the Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS), are the following:

• Exchange Online, a Microsoft-hosted version of Exchange Server
• SharePoint Online, a Microsoft-hosted version of SharePoint Server
• Communications Online, a Microsoft-hosted version of Communications Server (which was recently renamed Lync Server)
• Live Meeting, a Web conferencing service.

These services are available in various tiers, each with different levels of functionality, and are priced per user per month.

In October 2010, Microsoft announced the forthcoming rebranding of the BPOS as Office 365. Office 365 is a line of service plans that will include updates to Exchange Online and SharePoint Online, as well as a service called Lync Online that will be based on the Lync Server 2010 presence and communications software and will replace Communications Online and Live Meeting. Office 365 will introduce new licensing models and terms and begin including subscription licenses to the Office Professional Plus desktop software.