Microsoft Plans to Launch New and Improved Office 365

Microsoft has announced that it is retiring one of its versions of Office 365, and replacing it with a heavily improved version before the close of 2015
Their existing E4 version of Office 365 will be replaced by a new version plan named – you guessed it – E5.

This new version will include will include new and improved Skype for Business (previously known as Lync) with support for features such as Cloud PBX and Meeting Broadcast. There will also be new analytics features such as Power BI Pro and Delve Organizational Analytics and new advanced security features, including eDiscovery, Customer Lockbox, Data Loss Protection and Safe Attachments.

A large focus is on Skype for Business, with Microsoft testing three new integrated service for Office 365 users. Currently testing are PSTN conference and Cloud PBX with PSTN calling. These are all expected to be available before the end of 2015. Microsoft also announced they will soon be releasing an updated version of Power BI.

OFFICE 365

E4 will be retired when E5 becomes available. New customers will be able to purchase E5 or any combination of E1 and E3 with available upgrades to achieve Cloud PBX and PSTN capabilities. Existing E4 customers will have step up options to either E5 or E3 plus Cloud PBX. Customers who wish to maintain their licensing position, will be able to renew into E3 and Skype for Business Plus client-access license (CAL).

Existing Office 365 customers will be able to upgrade to E5 via step-up SKUs that charge the difference between what the customer currently has and E5 as the step-up price to E5. Add-on SKUs will also be available with customers who are maintaining on-premises licenses with Software Assurance.

Microsoft officials are not yet sharing publicly the price for the coming E5 SKU.

 For further information please contact your account manager or [email protected]