Office News

Yammer and Office 365: Aligning for scale

2013-05-09T09:50:00Z

Last summer, Microsoft made a $1.2B investment in Yammer, recognizing enterprise social as key to how companies communicate and collaborate. Fast forward only eight months, and the momentum is tremendous. We've just finished our third quarter and Yammer sales grew 259% year-over year, Yammer gained 312 new customers, and March marked Yammer's best month to-date in terms of user engagement.

Taking enterprise social to the next level

While we are pleased with the growth, the opportunity for enterprise social is even larger. Yammer and Microsoft have come together with a single vision - to bring enterprise social to all businesses by weaving these capabilities into the apps people use every day. Realizing this vision requires close alignment in product development, sales and marketing.

On the engineering side, we've made great strides in a short timeframe, bringing together Yammer and Office 365 teams to deliver regular updates against our roadmap. Right now our teams are actively focused on foundational work around identity, content and messaging that will drive seamless connected experiences across Office 365 and other applications. We look forward to sharing more exciting developments soon.

The next area of focus is aligning the Yammer and Office 365 go-to-market efforts. On March 1, we began offering Office 365 and Yammer together as part of Enterprise Agreements. We will further simplify the customer buying experience and increase global scale by fully integrating our sales teams this summer. We're going from about a hundred sellers at Yammer to several thousand Microsoft sellers around the world bringing customers the benefits of enterprise social.

We continue to invest aggressively in the Yammer business and are hiring in sales, engineering, customer engagement and marketing this year.

Customer momentum

The reaction from customers has been overwhelmingly positive. They are excited about the transformational potential of enterprise social and recognize the combined value of Office 365 and Yammer. Just one example we recently announced is ABB, a power and automation technology leader using Office 365 and Yammer to provide a single platform for productivity, communication, collaboration and enterprise social in the cloud for 145,000 employees across 100 countries.

We're just getting started

This is an exciting time for Microsoft and our customers as we pioneer the next generation of collaboration services for the workplace. We're excited about the value customers are seeing with Office 365 and Yammer together, and we believe this is just the beginning. Curious about enterprise social and the impact it can have on your business? Check out the Social Journey, a step-by-step guide on driving success using enterprise social or learn more about how leading companies are using Yammer.

Software subscriptions: #progressive or #premature?

2013-05-07T22:00:00Z

Last year, Adobe became a pioneer in offering software subscriptions by unveiling Creative Cloud, their subscription-only software service. Yesterday, they took the next step by announcing plans to discontinue development of their Creative Suite or other CS products. Focusing all future effort on Creative Cloud, Adobe will no longer offer its classic, packaged software product in this category.

Industry reaction is mixed. Some pundits point to this as the future, others explore challenges, and a few wonder if Office is next.

Like Adobe, we think subscription software-as-a-service is the future. The benefits to consumers are huge. Subscribers are always up-to-date. They get the latest and most complete applications. They can use subscriptions across the multitude of devices people use today. Web services like SkyDrive and applications like Skype are also more easily integrated with subscription services, like the new Office 365 Home Premium.

However, unlike Adobe, we think people's shift from packaged software to subscription services will take time. Within a decade, we think everyone will choose to subscribe because the benefits are undeniable. In the meantime, we are committed to offering choice--premier software sold as a package and powerful services sold as a subscription.

As proof of this point, since the launch of Office 365 Home Premium and Office 365 University in January, more than a quarter of consumers buying Office have chosen the subscription. This exceeded our expectations, given that software subscriptions are relatively new to most consumers. So, perhaps the shift is happening faster than we originally thought, and Adobe is helping blaze the trail. Tell us @Office or in the comments what you think. Software subscriptions: #progressive or #premature?

--Clint Patterson

New Office Updates: OneNote app enhancements & Skype more places

2013-03-21T20:23:00Z

Office 365 Home Premium debuted just a few weeks ago, and the first set of updates for the new Office has already arrived.

First, a newly updated OneNote Windows Store app adds new inking features (for handwriting on a tablet or other touch screen), the ability to open notebooks on Office 365 for businesses and a few fixes as well. You can read more on the OneNote blog.

Second, you can now call more places with Skype. As part of Office 365 Home Premium or Office 365 University, every primary subscriber gets 60 minutes of Skype per month to call landlines and mobile phones in select markets, and now, they can use those minutes to call 23 additional countries.

The Skype app for Windows 8

Call to landlines and mobiles in: Canada, Guam, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Thailand, United States, and China.

Call landlines in: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Brazil, South Africa, Morocco, Turkey, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, Indonesia-Jakarta, Slovenia, Malta, Andorra, Brunei, Iceland, and Guadeloupe.

This is just the first few updates. We'll continue to deliver new updates and enhancements both big and small to the new Office in the future. Stay tuned for more.

-- Office Team

Office 2013 now transferable

2013-03-06T14:00:00Z

A couple weeks ago, I posted this blog to clarify the new Office 2013 licensing terms. Based on customer feedback we have changed the Office 2013 retail license agreement to allow customers to transfer the software from one computer to another. This means customers can transfer Office 2013 to a different computer if their device fails or they get a new one. Previously, customers could only transfer their Office 2013 software to a new device if their PC failed under warranty.

While the license agreement accompanying Office 2013 software will be updated in a future release, this change is effective immediately and applies to Office Home and Student 2013, Office Home and Business 2013, Office Professional 2013 and the standalone Office 2013 applications. These transferability options are equivalent to those found in the Office 2010 retail license terms. The updated text is as follows:

Updated transferability provision to the Retail License Terms of the Software License Agreement for Microsoft Office 2013 Desktop Application Software:

Can I transfer the software to another computer or user? You may transfer the software to another computer that belongs to you, but not more than one time every 90 days (except due to hardware failure, in which case you may transfer sooner). If you transfer the software to another computer, that other computer becomes the "licensed computer." You may also transfer the software (together with the license) to a computer owned by someone else if a) you are the first licensed user of the software and b) the new user agrees to the terms of this agreement before the transfer. Any time you transfer the software to a new computer, you must remove the software from the prior computer and you may not retain any copies.

At Microsoft, we strive to make Office the very best product to help busy people and families get things done. A key ingredient in our formula for success is listening to our customers, and we're grateful for the feedback behind this change in Office licensing. Thank you.

--Jevon Fark, Office Team

Kurt DelBene: The cloud and beyond

2013-02-27T14:00:00Z

Read Microsoft Office Division President Kurt DelBene's blog about the latest release of Microsoft Office 365 for businesses.

"When we first set out to build this release of Office, we knew it would be the boldest yet. We wanted to create that 'over-the-shoulder envy' that makes your friend or the guy sitting next to you on the plane ask what you're using. In a recent survey, 96 percent of people who were asked said they'd recommend Office to a friend. With the new Office 365 services we know that customers will enjoy entirely new benefits and unique scenarios that only come alive in the cloud."

Get the rest of the story over on The Official Microsoft Blog.

Office 2013 and Office 365 installations and transferability

2013-02-19T16:00:00Z

A few weeks ago, we announced the new Office for consumers, including the all new Office 365 Home Premium, Office 365 University for college and university students, and traditional Office suites: Office Home and Student 2013, Office Home and Business 2013 and Office Professional 2013.

Since then we've received questions about the number of installations people get with the traditional Office suites, transferability, and how they compare to Office 2010. With that in mind, we want to offer some clarity on the matter, to help customers make the best purchasing decision.

Here's how our Office 2010 and Office 2013 licenses compare:

*An exception is granted when the software is on a PC that is replaced under warranty.

It is important to note that Office 2013 suites have consistent rights and restrictions regarding transferability as the equivalent Office 2010 PKC, which was chosen by a majority of Office 2010 customers worldwide.

We think this new lineup offers unmatched choice and value for students, families and everyone in between.

For those looking to use Office on multiple devices - Office 365 Home Premium works across up to 5 devices (Windows tablets, PCs or Macs) and can be activated and deactivated across devices.
For those who only require Office on one device - The Office 2013 software is licensed to one computer for the life of that computer and is non-transferable (consistent with the rights and restrictions of Office 2010 PKC). In the event that a customer buys the Office 2013 software and installs it on a PC that fails under warranty, the customer can contact support to receive an exemption to activate the Office 2013 software on the replacement PC.
For college and university students - Office 365 University works across 2 devices (Windows tablets, PCs or Macs) and can be activated and deactivated across devices.

If you're interested in getting the new Office, we encourage you to go here to explore which offering will give you the most value.

--Jevon Fark, Office Team

This week’s inaugural Lync Conference: Highlighting the future of communications

2013-02-19T15:33:00Z

All day, every day, we wear multiple hats-consumers and professionals, friends, family and colleagues-and our communications technologies need to move between these dimensions as seamlessly as we do. At this week's inaugural Lync Conference, Microsoft is celebrating a people-centric vision for the future of communications technology, including the announcement that Lync-Skype connectivity for presence, IM and voice will be available to all Lync users by June.

Our valued customers are taking front stage at the conference, sharing their stories about how Skype and Lync have supported these communications needs. In fact, 90 out of the Fortune 100 companies are Lync customers today. We have been honored by the rate of Lync adoption and encourage you to check out the new customer references we have for Lync 2013, available as of today.

For more information on how Lync and Skype are streamlining communications "from the living room to the boardroom", please see the Official Microsoft Blog.

“Techorating" tips to simplify your life with Office 365

2013-01-29T14:00:00Z

Today's guest contributor, Janna Robinson, is the host of DIY Network's Hollywood Hi-Tech and a renowned expert on lifestyle technology. Janna's mission is to educate and empower people about technology by making it approachable, fashionable and fun.

I love all things high-tech and I appreciate a beautifully designed home, so it makes me feel good when I combine both. Enter the concept of "techorating," the seamless blend of devices, services and style that will help you transform your everyday spaces and places into functional miracles.

We're all busy and expect things NOW. Thanks to services like Spotify and Netflix, we can access our entertainment anywhere, so shouldn't the same be true for the information we use every day? To help, Microsoft Office is now available as a software service--Office 365 Home Premium--so everything from your documents and family calendars to shopping lists roam with you whether you are on a PC, phone or tablet.

Streamline your life

It's a fact we don't always manage our time wisely, but we don't have to make big changes to make an impact. Any little tip or trick that I can share with folks to help them save time, be better organized and streamline their lives is huge. For example, use OneNote to keep a shopping list up-to-date and accessible on your phone. Microsoft's new Office 365 provides the right tools to be more productive and efficient by making it easier than ever to manage our projects, stay connected, organize and personalize our lives.

I'm a bicoastal entrepreneur, and I'm often working with people around the globe. As well, I'm getting married in a few months. (Might I suggest OneNote for all your wedding planning needs!) My wedding planning is even trickier because I'm not in the same state or time zone as the event. But through Skype videoconferencing--one of the great features included with an Office 365 Home Premium subscription--I've been able to view flower arrangements, table linens, cake choices and many other wedding items from anywhere.

SkyDrive gives me access to all my project content in Word, Excel, OneNote and PowerPoint, and on my smartphone, tablet, desktop and laptop, anytime and from virtually anywhere in one location. And because Office 365 automatically saves things to SkyDrive, I'll be able to access documents from anywhere.

By using the new Word templates, my documents are more clear, concise and visually appealing. New comments features eliminate a lot of back and forth via emails and phone calls. I rely on Excel for all my home remodel budgets, spreadsheets, timelines, reports and charts. SkyDrive allows me to send a link of my files to people and to set viewing and editing permissions. I love knowing my team can work together seamlessly and is always up-to-date with the latest information.

Outlook keeps my to-do lists in check, tracks my calendar, organizes my contacts and syncs my emails. I'm able to easily share my schedule, which eliminates the phrase, "what works best for your schedule?" And through the improved search function, I can quickly find emails, attachments and contacts using keywords.

Here are some examples of getting the most out of technology and saving some precious time.

The kitchen nook

Mom can sit at her command post with her tablet and spill-resistant keyboard and catch up on emails. Organizing her family's busy schedules in the kitchen is easier (and sometimes safer) and she can keep an eye on dinner. A tablet mount on the fridge allows her to follow recipes easily when they are at eye-level, front and center.

Home office trend

The slim design and state-of-the-art feel of the Microsoft Surface tablet makes it perfect for any room in the house. It's an especially good fit with sit-and-stand desks, which promote better circulation, rev-up metabolism, increase productivity and enhance concentration. Use it also to Skype, share docs with contacts via SkyDrive, and assemble PowerPoint presentations.

A little nudge to get you started

There are tons of online resources that can save you time and money as you tackle your next project. A DIY calculator can help you properly budget your home projects. Home design apps can help you design floor plans, place your furniture and take measurements on the spot.

Online painting tools allow you to download a paint fan deck or upload your own photos so you can visualize and see virtually your paint color candidates on your walls.

Need some inspiration for your next report or presentation? Visit the Office Store for hundreds of newly designed apps that can help you get a head start on any project.

When it comes to techorating, simple, smart and effective is what I go for. Same rules apply for software, which is why I'm so excited about the new Office. A beautiful blend of form and function, Office 365 Home Premium is truly designed for the way we work and live today.

In addition to consulting to celebrities and non-celebrities alike on how to bring the latest technologies into their homes, Janna Robinson has appeared as a tech expert and correspondent in the media, including EXTRA, TODAY, Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood, Dress My Nest, LXTV, TIME, Real Simple, Home, InStyle Home and Sound & Vision.

For more information on Office 365 Home Premium, visit the Microsoft News Center.

The new Office is now available for business customers

2012-12-03T18:00:00Z

Business customers around the world can now purchase the on-premises versions of the new Office products--including Office 2013, Exchange Server 2013, Lync Server 2013, SharePoint Server 2013, Project 2013 and Visio 2013--through Microsoft Volume Licensing. Broad availability of the new Office through retail and online channels is planned for the first quarter of 2013. The new Office gives customers a comprehensive set of productivity tools to help them do their best work in a world of devices and services.

From the free trial of the new Office we delivered through the Customer Preview in July to our announcement in October that we had reached our RTM milestone, we've gotten a lot of valuable feedback that helped shape the final version. Here are a few things about the new Office that we think are great:

The new Office works beautifully with touch, stylus, mouse or keyboard to give you the ultimate productivity experience. It brings the familiar Office experience to a wide range of new devices and gives you the best experience on Windows.*
The new Office is inherently social with real-time news feeds for people, documents and discussions, high-definition video conferencing**, shared notebooks and virtual whiteboards.
The new Office provides security features without compromise, includes data loss prevention, compliance management, built-in malware protection, and flexible deployment options across on-premises and in the cloud.
The new Office is in the cloud. Coupled with new cloud services available next year, the new Office will save your documents to SkyDrive by default, and your personalized settings, templates and documents will travel with you.*

To order, begin testing or learn more about Office 2013, please ask your Microsoft Account Team or your Microsoft Partner. Whether you're ready to buy the on-premises Office 2013 products available now or want to use the cloud services available early next year, try the new Office today and let us know what you think.

--Sanjay Manchanda, Office Team

*Windows 7 or Windows 8 operating system required

**HD video camera required for high-definition video conferencing

The new SharePoint bets big on social, mobile, cloud

2012-11-12T16:30:00Z

Today, in Las Vegas, we kicked off SharePoint Conference 2012 with more than ten thousand customers, partners and enthusiasts. Here's a snapshot of today's news.

Leadership past, present and future

Collaboration and social technologies are fundamentally changing the way people and teams work, and as we celebrate this pivotal release of SharePoint, we are humbled to announce that the product has reached more than $2 billion (USD, adjusted) in annual revenue. Two in three information workers have SharePoint.

The new SharePoint is a pivotal release and embraces cloud, social and mobile in new and exciting ways, including the introduction of new native apps to give people access to their newsfeeds and documents on Windows 8, Windows Phone, iOS and Android devices.

Our vision for enterprise social

Microsoft execs Jeff Teper, David Sacks and Adam Pisoni outline our vision for the future of enterprise social--a world where social is woven into the apps you use every day. Every business will be social, and every business app will be a social app. The combination of Office, SharePoint and Yammer will transform the way we work with new social experiences that connect people, knowledge and information across an entire organization.

To make this a reality, we're integrating Yammer and SharePoint. Today, customers can connect the two systems with Yammer web parts and the new Yammer Open Graph capabilities. As a next step, we will deliver unified identity, integrated document management and feed aggregation.

In addition, we're making Yammer Enterprise part of SharePoint Online and Office 365 Enterprise at no additional charge starting March 1, 2013. Customers can get the best in cloud productivity and enterprise social in a single platform. For more information, check out the Official Microsoft Blog.

A huge opportunity for developers in the cloud

The new cloud application model enables developers to use their existing skills to develop apps for the new Office and SharePoint and market them on the new Office Store. These apps can be hosted on Windows Azure, and Scott Guthrie, Microsoft corporate vice president, highlighted the power of Windows Azure hosting and announced new tools for developing apps for Office and SharePoint with Visual Studio 2012.

Visit the event's Virtual Press Room for additional content, including a live stream of the keynote. You can also follow @SPConf and the #SPC12 hashtag for updates.

-Clint Patterson, Office Team