In a previous blog I wrote about how I try to position Microsoft’s Online Services (“MOS”) as a delivery choice for technology…but the next questions is usually then – what’s the difference between MOS and the Business Productivity Online Suite ("BPOS")?
Microsoft Online Services
For me, MOS is a umbrella title for our hosted business software. In summary, MOS includes the following:
* – There are currently only available as a trial in the US
I am going to look at all of these in more detail in future blogs but for our primary MOS site and for information please click on www.microsoft.com/online
BPOS
BPOS is a grouping of the Online Services representing our main communication and collaboration solutions listed above in points 1 to 4. So talking about BPOS with customers is a good way to look at a broad, but connected set of offerings often referred to as Unified Communications (“UC”). How to define UC is a whole other conversation as everyone has a different take!
Probably as important is to remember purchasing the Suite rather than the individual products currently attracts a discount. The discount is currently 38% and you will often as a result see customers take the whole suite even if the conversations starts with say Exchange Online.
There are two variants of BPOS, Standard and Dedicated and depending on customer size and specific requirements, customers will prefer one or other. Stay tuned for a specific blog on these in the future.
So in summary – the difference between MOS and BPOS is that BPOS is a subset of MOS. In a structured dialogue that starts with business need, then technology and finally delivery options you should find the conversations flows logically from MOS into BPOS.