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Microsoft Corporation yesterday announced the commercial launch of its latest offering, the Microsoft Office 365, in Zimbabwe.
This is the newest cloud-based service tailor-made for all businesses of all sizes especially the small to medium-scale enterprises.
Speaking to journalists in Harare yesterday, MS West, East, Central Africa and Indian Ocean Islands public cloud sales manager Mr Pratik Roy said that businesses in Zimbabwe can now try the Office 365 via the Internet.
He said trials were also being conducted in 18 other countries including Mauritius, Ghana and Angola with the product having been launched in South Africa and Nigeria.
Office 365 brings together Microsoft Office, Microsoft SharePoint Line, Microsoft Exchange Online and Microsoft Lync Online.
“The Microsoft SharePoint Online is for Advanced Email, the Microsoft Exchange online for advanced collaboration and Microsoft Lync Online for advanced communication. Prices range from US$2 per user per month to US$22 per user per month
By using the cloud service, companies have access to files around the clock as documents can be accessed from the remote servers online. Documents can be accessed from anywhere as long as one has access to the Internet,” he said.
He added the software could also be accessible to people using other systems such as Apple’s IOS and Android.
Mr Roy also said that they had to run Internet connectivity tests to make sure that the software could be used in Zimbabwe, which proved viable.
The cloud-based service, which is compatible with all devices which use Windows 8, does not require people to change the way they work because it is based on familiar, industry leading productivity tools people know and trust.
“Office 365 will change forever how businesses both big and small, share and communicate in this digital age. Big entities that adopt Office 365 will be able to ensure faster turnaround times by bringing the power of collaboration to the cloud and this will in turn improve productivity and set these businesses on the path to success,” said Microsoft East and Southern Africa general manager Mr Eric Odipo in a statement.
“The launch in Zimbabwe will accelerate that evolution by delivering enterprise-grade collaboration for all businesses large and small.”
Meanwhile, the new software had been used on trial basis by a local IT company WinSys Corporation Zimbabwe.
“We thoroughly evaluated other cloud productivity offerings in the market before choosing Microsoft,” said the company’s director Mr Harold Muvuti.
He also said that the software is the right choice to help companies support the way people work and encourage a more mobile working environment.
Online Reporter