Office 365 is an affordable and dynamic enterprise cloud-based productivity suite that can optionally include Office for Windows Desktop (the home-user Office 365).
The main cloud components include:
- Exchange Online: Enterprise email and collaboration.
- SharePoint Online: Document libraries, intranet, and a business application framework.
- Lync Online: Unified Communications, video conferencing and presence.
Office 365 cloud services can be accessed in many different ways:
- Office Web Applications, available using a browser
- Office 365 apps for Android and iOS (iPhone and iPad)
- Office installed on Windows (traditional Office)
When it comes to Office for Windows, businesses can either chose to use their own existing Microsoft Office software, or they can chose to include Office for Windows as part of their Office 365 subscription. With the latter choice, the business always has the latest version of Microsoft Office (currently Office 2013).