Microsoft Expands Microsoft 365 Offering and Integrates LinkedIn into Office 365
Microsoft has announced the Microsoft 365 F1 and Education packages. In addition, the company integrates Skype for Business Online in its Microsoft Teams service and LinkedIn profiles in Office 365. Furthermore, SQL Server is widely available, including for Linux.
Microsoft made numerous announcements for the enterprise market at its Ignite conference in Orlando. The company is adding the F1 and Education packages to its Microsoft 365 offering. F1 consists of Office 365 F1, Windows 10 and Enterprise Mobility + Security, and the company focuses on what it calls Firstline Workers, i.e. employees who come into contact with customers first, such as those of a help desk.
Microsoft 365 Education consists of Office 365 for Education, Windows 10, Enterprise Mobility + Security, and Minecraft: Education Edition. In addition, the Windows maker promises to come with a 365 bundle for non-profit organizations, without giving further details. Microsoft introduced the first two Microsoft 365 bundles in July, Enterprise and Business. It concerns subscriptions consisting of Windows 10 and Office 365, supplemented with further services.
Other announcements were made in the field of integration of services that Microsoft acquired through acquisitions. For example, data from LinkedIn profiles will become part of apps and services such as Outlook, SharePoint and OneDrive for Business. Users from inside and outside companies can view LinkedIn profiles from Office 365. Microsoft will immediately start with this for first release customers. In addition, Microsoft is integrating Skype for Business Online into Microsoft Teams, which should become the central collaboration component in Office 365. Microsoft is also integrating Yammer further into SharePoint.
Microsoft also announced the general availability of SQL Server 2017. The database software is available for Windows Server, Linux and Docker. Microsoft announced in March of last year that SQL Server 2017 would be coming to Linux because of the demand. In addition, the company is responding to the popularity of that platform with the containerized version for Docker.