Microsoft Opens Online Services to 18 New Countries

Software giant Microsoft has expanded its tentacles over an even greater part of the earth's crust this week, after it announced that the Business Productivity Online suite has been made available on a trial basis for businesses around the world.

The plan has, according to some insiders, been in the works for some time. Most believe Microsoft began preparing itself for this step when it extended hosted software services to companies across the United States late last year.

Also in the works is a worldwide release for Microsoft's Office Communications Online tool, which allows users access to instant messaging services, and the Business Productivity Online Deskless Worker Suite intended to help streamline a cost-effective email and scheduling service for occasional users.

Global Services for a Desperate Global Economy

In the end, the moves are part of Microsoft's attempt to help companies around the world make their services more efficient than ever before without compromising productivity. "These services open up new possibilities for businesses to control costs while continuing to enhance the productivity of their employees," said Microsoft's Business Division president, Stephen Elop. (Source: echannelline.com)

Elop figures the use of these tools can add up to big savings, a lucrative promise in these tough economic times. "Customers can save between 10 per cent and 50 per cent in IT-related expenditures as a result of deploying Microsoft Online Services," he added.

Eighteen new countries (aside from the U.S.) will now have access to these services starting April 1st, 2009. The list includes mostly Western nations, including our friends to the north Canada but also much of Europe, including Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Holland, Switzerland, Norway, Portugal, England, Spain, and Sweden. New Zealand has also been included. (Source: cnet.com)

Access to the Business Productivity Online Service will cost users $16/month.