Ferris Research : Summary of Microsoft Exchange and SharePoint Online

Ferris Research gives a comprehensive summary of Microsoft’s recent release of Online Services …

…On November 17, 2008, Microsoft launched cloud-based (Software as a Service) versions of Exchange and SharePoint — Microsoft Exchange Online and Microsoft SharePoint Online. …

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• Microsoft has put a lot of effort into designing a system that is easy to subscribe to and easy to support. At first sight, the design seems first class.
• Microsoft is encouraging third-party system integrators to participate in support, either by providing mainstream IT applications support, or by building services on top of Microsoft’s cloud-based offerings.
• A lot of work has gone into allowing the coexistence of hosted Exchange and on-premises Exchange, primarily through AD federation.
• Microsoft envisages the common development of applications that span on-premises and cloud-based systems. This is an interesting idea that merits further contemplation.

Additional observations will follow over the short term. …

… David Ferris and Nick Shelness

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