Introducing New Microsoft 365 Features and Offerings: How Small and Medium Businesses Can Benefit

Microsoft recently introduced the first premium Office 365 Personal and Family Subscriptions. I am happy to follow up here to discuss similar improvements to our Office 365 SME subscriptions — and Office 365 ProPlus. Both these devices will use the Microsoft 365 name.

It’s a little progression. Microsoft 365 was launched in 2017 as a business customer licensing bundle — a mix of Windows, Office, and Enterprise Mobility and Security (EMS). It’s been a long way since. Today, we call it “the world’s technology cloud,” and it reflects our vision for the future of Microsoft’s productivity tools — an interconnected range of software and services that allows you to work using artificial intelligence (AI) and other cutting-edge technologies. And for SMEs, this includes new tools in Microsoft Teams to help you host productive online meetings and events; cloud file storage and sharing techniques so you can collaborate from anywhere, and security and identity solutions to safeguard your company. At a time when companies face extraordinary health and economic challenges, we are pleased to introduce our consumers and small and medium-sized business customers into this growing Microsoft 365 family.

Latest Product Editions

New product names take effect on April 21, 2020. It is just a change to the product name, and there are no improvements in pricing or function currently.

Office 365 Business Essentials will be known as Microsoft 365 Business Basic.
Office 365 Business Premium will be labeled as Microsoft 365 Business Standard.
Microsoft 365 Business shall become Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
Office 365 Business and Office 365 ProPlus will both be known as Microsoft 365
Apps. Wherever necessary, Microsoft will use the labels “for business” and “for the enterprise” to differentiate both.

Remember that all the changes will occur automatically

Microsoft, till now, has only announced a change in names. But these changes reflect Microsoft’s intent to continue pushing creativity in Microsoft 365 that goes far beyond what customers typically see as Office.

The Office, you know, and love will always be there, but we are excited to inform you about the latest applications and services introduced by Microsoft.

Reason for making these changes

The primary intent is that Microsoft wants its products to match the subscription features and benefits. Microsoft 365 is an interconnected suite of software and services that works with AI and other cutting-edge technologies. And for SMEs, that includes new features in Microsoft Teams to help you manage productive online meetings and events; cloud file storage and networking tools so you can collaborate from anywhere; and security and identity solutions to safeguard your enterprise. Moreover, Microsoft is also trying ways to simplify usability. It is a new approach designed to help you quickly find the plan you need and continue doing business.

The office suite is the cornerstone of Microsoft’s productivity experience and doesn’t change much. Know that over the past few years, Microsoft cloud collaboration offering has evolved well beyond what people typically see as “Office.”

All the critical applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint gets a significant makeover as well. Microsoft breathes a new life to your favorite apps by leveraging cloud and AI, into these applications in Microsoft 365. It now comes loaded with cloud features like Teams, Flow, Forms, and Planner.