Microsoft Australia launched Office 365 in beta today. Dubbed as Microsoft's next generation software in cloud productivity, Office 365 aims to bring together Office, SharePoint, Exchange and Lync online in a cloud service.

Office 365 provides businesses with a greater choice in how to deploy the latest productivity software from Microsoft whether on the desktop or online through the cloud. Office 365 makes it easier for businesses to work from anywhere as long as there is an internet connection using a range of different devices. The cloud productivity software also allows businesses to simply and securely collaborate with others inside and outside their organisation.

Microsoft Australia Product Marketing Manager (Online Services) Kelly Innis said: "Office 365 is the best of everything we know about productivity, all in a single, easy to access, affordable cloud service."

"Just as Office defines desktop productivity for millions around the world, Office 365 will define cloud productivity for the next generation. With Office 365, even the smallest of businesses can get the latest and greatest editions of Microsoft's enterprise-calibre software and services for the first time, including the most important features and functionality of Office 2010."

Microsoft Australia will make the Office 365 available to Australian business through its partners, including Telstra via the T-Suite platform, as well as through Enterprise Agreements direct from Microsoft.

Telstra Business Director (Cloud Marketing) Marcus Bartram, said: "Together with Microsoft, we're allowing businesses to focus on what they do best, knowing that their technology is taken care of."

"Small to medium businesses will be able to access applications previously only accessible to larger businesses via T-Suite, and stay current with the latest innovations that can deliver business improvements."

"We will also be able to offer the majority of our Telstra Business customers the added convenience of having this and all their Telstra services billed as one."

Microsoft and its partners promise to businesses and customers that Office 365 will reliably deliver 99.9% scheduled uptime in a financially backed Service Level Agreement guarantee as well as being ISO 27001 SAS70-compliant security.