Microsoft takes hosted business software overseas

Company will offer its Business Productivity Online Suite in 18 additional countries, starting April 1.

Dawn Kawamoto Former Staff writer, CNET News

Dawn Kawamoto covered enterprise security and financial news relating to technology for CNET News.

Dawn Kawamoto

March 2, 2009 9:08 a.m. PT

Microsoft said Monday it is expanding online services to businesses beyond the U.S. borders.

Microsoft, which has long discussed selling online services to businesses, began offering hosted software services to U.S.-based companies of all sizes last fall.

The software giant will begin selling its Business Productivity Online Suite, which includes Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Microsoft Office Live Meeting, in 18 additional countries beginning April 1.

The hosted service will be offered in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, in addition to the United States.

Pricing for the Business Productivity Online Service will be about $16 per month per user.

The company will also release Microsoft Office Communications Online on April 1.