This week, Microsoft fires back with new capabilities for its online offering for small businesses.
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Clearly (and without mentioning the ongoing Microsoft/Yahoo takeover maneuverings, big Web players are getting increasingly serious about offering online tools that look to be a perfect fit for cost-conscious, online-savvy small businesses.
Microsoft's latest move targets is Office Live Small Business offering, which in reality is less about Word or Excel replacements and more about helping small businesses get themselves online. Up to now, the product included basic webmail, web site (including a domain name) all for free. Some additional services, like online CRM, were available for a fee.
Now, Microsoft wants to help businesses that use its service get to the next step. It has added contact management and portal creation to its free level. Available for a fee are a new hosted e-commerce service, starting at $39.95 per month, and an email blast tool that includes 200 emails per month for free with an expected monthly cost of $9.95.
One added cost of note: while domains are still free to register, they cost $14.95 annually after the first year, a hefty cost compared to services like GoDaddy.com (offset, of course, by the free Web hosting).
I've used OfficeLive for some .org sites and the service is very easy to use and the price is definitely right.
For a small business needing a minimal Web site and already on the Microsoft bandwagon, it's a great solution.
Read more:
Internet.com: Microsoft: How Does 'Free' Sound?
WebWare: Microsoft Makes Changes to Office Live
