Microsoft announced the launch of its ‘Online Services’ for Indian Enterprises particularly the SME segment with the services promising to help the SMEs save up to 50 percent of the IT-related costs incurred. As a launch offer, Microsoft is providing a to month free trial to such enterprises for the range of services such as email, collaboration, conferencing and productivity capabilities.

The services can be tried by visiting    www.microsoft.com/india/onlineservices. The commercial launch of the services is scheduled for October this year.

Post trial the pricing for the services will be on the lines of ‘pay-as-you-go’ model with an aim to provide SMEs affordability, enhanced productivity, and freedom from hassles of IT deployment.

“Over 80 percent of the businesses in India are SMBs that are increasingly looking to use world class IT for better business productivity. With tools such as email and collaboration becoming increasingly a must-have in this segment, the pay-as-you-go affordability and freedom from IT administration, Microsoft Online Services offers the much needed respite from financial and logistical hurdles. We encourage businesses to make the best of the free trial opportunity we are launching – and experience the powerful impact of Microsoft Online Services.’ said Sanjay Manchanda, Director, Microsoft Business Division.

“This launch also marks the second phase of Microsoft software plus services vision following the tremendous success we have seen of our hosted offerings including Hosted Exchange and Hosted ERP among Indian enterprises”. he added.

The services fall under Microsoft’s software plus services strategy which include Exchange Online (for e-mail) and Office SharePoint Online (portals and collaboration) are available separately or as a suite together with Office Live Meeting (for conferencing), Microsoft Exchange Hosted Services and Microsoft Office Communications Online (for instant messaging and presence).