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Microsoft to businesses: Invest in the Xbox One

The company says that it believes the Xbox One is an "entirely justifiable" business expense.

Don Reisinger
CNET contributor Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.
Don Reisinger
2 min read
An enterprise-friendly console?
An enterprise-friendly console? James Martin/CNET

Microsoft's Xbox One might seem like a consumer-focused product, but the company also believes it's a smart choice for the corporate world.

Writing on his company's Small Business blog on Wednesday, Microsoft Xbox MVP and director of Consumer Camp, Marques Lyons, said that companies should consider investing in the Xbox One. In the post, Lyons said that he believes the Xbox One is an "entirely justifiable...business expense," adding that it comes with several features that could come in handy in the corporate world.

One of the Xbox One's most appealing corporate features is Skype integration, Lyons argues. He says that its Skype feature, combined with multiperson chatting and 1080p video through the Kinect, can be a good tool for companies looking to hold conferences. And because Xbox One supports SkyDrive, companies can access the files they save in the company's cloud-based storage directly from the console.

Finally, Lyons points to Wi-Fi Direct, saying that its functionality, which allows for the transfer of data wirelessly to devices, could be a huge selling point for enterprise users. He envisions companies using the Xbox One to show presentations on a television or navigate PowerPoint presentations.

Looking ahead, Lyons says that there's no telling how else the Xbox One might appeal to the corporate world.

"The app story of Xbox One has yet to be written, therefore it is entirely possible to find apps down the road that could be of benefit for you and your business," he wrote. "With the processing power, snap mode, and connection to a large screen, that the Xbox One has, this device is capable of going from the 'break room' to the 'board room.'"

Microsoft's Xbox One is launching later this year. The console, a follow-up to the Xbox 360, will retail for $499 at launch.