Microsoft Cloud Services Get Major Service Updates, New Customers

REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp. today announced the first major service update for Microsoft Office 365, the company's next-generation cloud productivity service for businesses of all sizes. The service will also be available to try in 22 additional markets today, including Argentina, Iceland, Indonesia, South Africa and Taiwan.

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"We are seeing really positive momentum for Office 365. Customers are adopting Office 365 eight times faster than our previous service, and the solution is on track to become one of our fastest-growing offers in Microsoft history," said Kurt DelBene, president of the Office Division at Microsoft. "We are also seeing great traction with small businesses, with more than 90 percent of our early Office 365 customers coming from small businesses."

Small Businesses and Big Brands Bet on Office 365

More and more large global companies are choosing Office 365 to enable their employees and customers to work together in the cloud. In fact, more than 40 percent of the global Interbrand list of the 100 top brands use Office 365 or related cloud productivity services from Microsoft. Among the new customers are Campbell Soup Company and Groupe Marie-Claire, which have recently chosen Office 365 to reap the benefits of cloud productivity.

"Office 365 is key to our plans to propel our employees to next-generation innovation in productivity technologies, at a very rapid pace," said Joe Spagnoletti, senior vice president and chief information officer at Campbell Soup Company. "We're betting on the cloud — and Office 365 — as we prepare to build a highly collaborative workplace where employees across our global offices can all work together and communicate in a seamless fashion."

Groupe Marie-Claire, a leading fashion magazine published in more than 30 countries, will use Office 365 to modernize the company's email and collaboration capabilities, while moving away from a costly and inefficient legacy technology. Employees at Groupe Marie-Claire will be able to access email and share documents on a PC, Mac or various mobile devices with Office 365.

"We thoroughly evaluated other cloud productivity offerings in the market before choosing Microsoft. Office 365 is the right choice to help our company support the way people work today and encourage a more mobile work environment," said Philippe Chapier, IT manager for Groupe Marie-Claire. "With the service, we have the added benefit of working together with familiar tools on almost any device and can make quicker decisions when needed."

Rapid Cloud Evolution

Microsoft is also making more than 30 new updates to Office 365 to enhance collaboration and communication, and for SkyDrive, adding simple app-centric sharing for Office, powerful file management and easier uploads with HTML5 based largely on customer feedback. Key new features and enhancements include the following:

• Support for Lync for Mac. Mac users can now use instant messaging, presence and videoconferencing through Office 365.
• New SharePoint Business Connectivity Services, which allow people to connect to information in their company's critical line-of-business applications, such as customer relationship management or SAP software.
• Support for Windows Phone 7.5. Starting today, people can access and update documents in SharePoint Online from anywhere using their Windows Phone.
• SkyDrive gets simpler app-centric sharing for Office, powerful file management and easier uploads with HTML5. Share any Office document in one click. Work together more easily with any contact — across email services and connected networks such as Facebook or LinkedIn. Powerful tools to manage and organize files quickly. Drag and drop multiple files to upload across browsers on PC and Mac.

"Today's news illustrates how we're executing like never before in the cloud with more customers, capabilities and commitment than anyone in the industry. All this while others search for their focus," said Takeshi Numoto, corporate vice president, Microsoft Office Division.

About Office 365 and SkyDrive

Office 365 brings together Microsoft Office, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online and Lync Online in an always-up-to-date service, at a predictable monthly cost. Businesses can try it for free for 30 days by signing up at http://www.office365.com or from their local Microsoft partner. Follow Office 365 on Twitter (@Office365), Facebook (Office 365), LinkedIn (Office 365) and the Office 365 blog at http://community.office365.com for the latest information and updates on the service.

SkyDrive is Microsoft's personal cloud storage service. With your personal content in the sky, you can always access it from all the devices you use. SkyDrive works seamlessly with Microsoft Office and Office Web Apps so you can access or share documents anywhere. Sign up for free at http://www.SkyDrive.com. Follow SkyDrive on Twitter (@SkyDrive), Facebook (SkyDrive) and the Inside Windows Live blog at http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_live.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

SOURCE Microsoft Corp.