The introduction of Office 365 has raised many questions regarding exactly what it entails. What is new? Is it simply a repackaged version of the Microsoft Office suite of products? The experts at Alliance IT are here to help!
How is Office 365 Different From Microsoft Office?
Most versions of “Office 365” include the Microsoft Office applications which you are likely familiar with (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher, and Access.) However, 365 expands services into subscription plans which provide access to additional cloud-based productivity services as well. The Office 365 business packages include Skype web conferencing and hosted business email, as well as access to additional OneDrive online storage. Office 365 plans can be installed across multiple devices, including PCs, Macs, Android tablets, Android phones, iPad, and iPhone. All Office 365 plans are paid for on a subscription basis, monthly or annually.
In contrast, traditional Microsoft Office is available as a one-time purchase and can only be installed on one PC or Mac. The applications are not automatically updated; to get the latest version, you will need to purchase the product again when the new version becomes available.
What are Office 365 Cloud-Based Services?
“The cloud” can be best understood as web-based computing services which are hosted off-site. With Office 365, the IT infrastructure you are accessing is maintained and hosted by Microsoft. You are likely already using cloud-based services every day, such as web-based email and mobile banking applications. The benefit of cloud-based services is that they can be accessed from wherever you may be, and on any device with Internet access.
Can I Simply Upgrade My Microsoft Office?
If you wish to upgrade, Office 365 is designed to work with the latest version of Office, Office 2013, and Office 2011 for Mac. (Previous versions of Office, such as Office 2010 and Office 2007, may work with Office 365 with reduced functionality). In addition to getting the latest version of Office as part of your enhanced subscription, you will also get automatic updates, so your Office will be kept current.
Does Office 365 Grow with My Business?
If your small business began with an Office 365 subscription which you have outgrown, upgrading and transitioning your account is simple. In most cases, you can utilize the “Switch Plans” wizard right in your Admin center. There are some plans which will need to be upgraded manually, such as those with more than 300 distinct users. Your domain name is automatically transferred to your new account. This applies whether you brought your own domain name to the Office 365 account or a domain name was set up when you purchased an Office 365 plan.
What are Some of the Mobile Applications Available through Office 365?
Office for Android™ and Office for iPad® both allow you to view, create and edit documents with touch-friendly Word, Excel and PowerPoint apps. You can view documents for free with Office for Android, but editing and creating documents requires an eligible Office 365 subscription. Office Mobile comes preinstalled on Windows Phone 8 and is available for select models of iPhone® and Android phones. This application provides Office content viewing and on-the-go content editing capabilities. You can read more about the mobile app features you will have access to with Office 365 on the manufacturer website.
Microsoft 365 is currently available in three variations: Education, Business, and Enterprise. Pricing will vary based on the number of users, as well as the suite of products needed by the client.
If you need more information on Office 365 or have general questions regarding which cloud-based services will be most beneficial to your organization, give us a call. At Alliance IT, we are committed to educating our clients and providing them with the very best in IT managed services.
