Office Update Portal Adds Third-Party Services

Microsoft has enhanced its Office Update site with a host of new services that should appeal to the small business and office users who make most use of the site. Office Update was originally conceived as a site that offered tips, updates, templates, and software accessories (some from third parties) for Office users. The added services, delivered by an eclectic mix of new partners, are potentially useful to someone working in a typical office. Most of the partners delivering the services are working with Microsoft to enhance the functionality of Office and to leverage new features in Office 2000.

The new services at http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/ are not really “updates” but extensions that users of Office may find helpful. They include the following:

Unified messaging. Offered through eFax.com, this service provides free inbound faxing and voicemail, through which faxes and voice messages are delivered to users’ e-mail boxes. For a fee, customers can add the capability of sending faxes from their desktop PCs through eFax.com.