MISSISSAUGA, ON – Bell has become the first Canadian partner of Microsoft’s cloud-based service designed for small and medium-sized businesses, and is now bundling it with their other business communication services.
Office 365 brings together Microsoft Office, Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Exchange Online and Lync Online in one service, with a monthly cost that starts at $7 per user, per month.
“Bell and Microsoft have worked closely for years to help Canadian businesses with their collaboration needs, and we’re happy to partner with Microsoft to bring Office 365 to the Bell cloud portfolio,” said Strahan McCarten, director of product management, hosting and cloud computing for Bell Business Markets, in the announcement. “With Office 365, Bell customers can reduce their costs and maximize their IT productivity whether they’re starting a new business venture or enhancing their existing technology operations.”
According to a Leger Marketing survey conducted for Microsoft Canada, although nearly 73% of Canadian SMBs understand that cloud-based technology can offer a cost-effective means of accessing the latest technology, just 30% are currently investing in cloud services.
Microsoft said that it is building a “massive partner ecosystem” around Office 365, which includes new ways of partnering with service providers such as telecommunications and hosting firms around the world.
