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.
Microsoft has offered hosted business applications through partners since the mid-1990s, but has been experimenting with offering hosted services directly since 2005, when it revealed that it was hosting Exchange and SharePoint, as well as managing desktops, for Energizer Holdings. Microsoft began turning this experiment into a generally available product in Oct. 2007, when it announced Microsoft Online Services for enterprises with more than 5,000 seats. In 2008, it extended the services to business customers of any size. These services compete with services from Google, Cisco, 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:
Atlas Members have full access
Get access to this and thousands of other unbiased analyses, roadmaps, decision kits, infographics, reference guides, and more, all included with membership. Comprehensive access to the most in-depth and unbiased expertise for Microsoft enterprise decision-making is waiting.
Membership OptionsAlready have an account? Login Now