As websites continue to evolve from static pages to interactive tools rivaling desktop apps, you’re bound to hear more and more about cloud computing. Under the model, your computer wouldn’t need tons of storage or processing power, but would make use of those resources on remote servers and instead act more as a remote terminal. One of the biggest names in software is in the middle of making that move to a cloud-based system, as Microsoft announced the launch of online-based Office 365.

Office 365, scheduled to ship next year, is now available in limited beta form in 13 countries and regions and includes Office Web Apps, Exchange Online, SharePoint Online and Lync Online.

Combining some of Microsoft’s existing cloud-based services, it will be available through most browsers, including Mozilla’s Firefox, Apple’s Inc’s Safari and Google’s Chrome, and can be used on mobile devices such as Research in Motion Ltd’s BlackBerry and Apple’s iPad.

(more…)

Bookmark/Search this post with: