
Microsoft, the USA PATRIOT Act, and European cloud computing
Microsoft announced last month that its Software as a Service (SaaS) offering, Office 365, will better comply with European guidelines to ensure that customer data is adequately protected. This move is certainly welcome, but the long-armed spectre of the USA PATRIOT Act continues to hang over Microsoft and other US companies, regardless of customers’ nationality […]

Microsoft’s Skype Acquisition: My Immediate Concerns
Kara Swisher of BoomTown has confirmed that Microsoft has finalized the deal to acquire Skype for $8.5 billion. According to her Microsoft will announce the news early in the morning tomorrow. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier tonight that Microsoft–in what would be its most aggressive acquisition in the digital space–was zeroing in on buying […]

Microsoft Office 365 Getting Closer
Microsoft is rapidly moving Office to an Internet app that will run in a browser. It is called Office 365. It’s a huge part of Microsoft’s all-in cloud strategy. Office 365 was introduced in limited beta last year, bringing together Microsoft Office, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online and Lync Online in an always-up-to-date cloud service. Today […]

Can Office 365 Help Microsoft’s Future?
Microsoft today took the wrappers off their Office 365 offering and allowed any business to try out the beta version. The general availability is scheduled for sometime later in the year. Office 365 is Microsoft’s answer to other online Office Suites such as Google Apps and Zoho Office Suite. After dilly dallying for a long […]