Microsoft Software Is Going Online

Microsoft recently announced the planned beta release of their online business productivity suite Office Live for 2006 (http://www.microsoft.com/office/officelive/default.mspx). Initially, the beta version will be available to U.S. residents only.

This represents a fundamental shift for Microsoft away from installed pre-packaged software, distributed on CD-ROM and installed locally by the licencee to a software-as-service model that presents a more manageable monthly subscription to its customers. The pioneers of what is known in the IT world as 'on-demand software' are Salesforce.com, who took on the major CRM (customer relationship management) software vendors with a revolutionary hosted suite. Marc Benioff, Chairman and CEO of Salesforce.com publically argues that the days of installing software are numbered and that Internet-based solutions represent the future of software. From Microsoft's recent announcement, it would seem that Bill Gates agrees with him.

David Cruickshank, joint Managing Director of Farrellsoft Ltd agrees that the on-demand model represents the future. Farrellsoft launched the on-demand small business service Business IT Online (http://www.businessitonline.com) earlier this year and the response to the launch has been extremely positive. "It's clear that small businesses find software to be an expensive and inconvenient headache but at the same time it is a necessity for running their business", says Cruickshank. "On-demand providers are able to deploy our software without the traditionally high costs that customers associate with multi-user software, including local servers & networking, maintenance and support contracts, version upgrades, IT services expertise and multi-user licences. The software is affordable and being web-based, users are more familiar with the browser interface".

So what should small business owners look out for when considering the transition to Internet-based software? Cruickshank provides three important tips for online software use:

1. Check for security. Understandably, with all the spam and Internet fraud that every small business owner is exposed to on a day-to-day basis, it is extremely important that you know who you are dealing with. It is important to confirm that the software service provider is using secure technologies by verifying their digital certification. Click on and review their supplier's seal of approval, which should be visible on all pages of the site where sensitive data is being entered and double-check by looking for the locked padlock, or unbroken key symbols at the bottom of the browser window.

2. Make use of the free trial. If the service provider doesn't offer a free trial, you should ask yourself why that is. There should be no cost associated with giving the service a try, and if at the end of the trial period you don't want to subscribe to the service, you don't have to.

3. If you've checked their certificate and tried the software, consider providing feedback. Most service providers will offer a user forum, feedback page or blog for just this purpose. Online software can be modified, improved and upgraded extremely quickly and so while the site may not currently offer all the features you are looking for, you may be pleasantly surprised in a few weeks time. This will contribute to a constantly improving service for you and other similar businesses.

The 'setup.exe' file may soon become consigned to the recycle bin and this could save us all a lot of time and cost.

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David Cruickshank
Director
Farrellsoft Ltd
Shepherds Building
Rockley Road
London W14 0DA

Tel: 0207 348 0197
Mobile: 07796 956 494
Fax: 0207 900 2853
david.cruickshank@farrellsoft.co.uk
http://www.businessitonline.com

This release was published on openPR.