News, August 2011

Bell becomes Microsoft's first Canadian syndication partner for Office 365

Bell is well positioned to sell and support the Microsoft Office 365 service to our Large, Medium, and Small business customers beginning in August.

Microsoft Office 365 has officially launched in Canada and across the globe. The service offers customers a set of messaging and collaboration tools – delivered as a bundled subscription service via the cloud – that provide business-rich capabilities without the need to maintain and deploy software and hardware on premises.

"Bell and Microsoft have worked closely for years to help Canadian businesses with their collaboration needs, and we're happy to partner with Microsoft to bring Office 365 to the Bell cloud portfolio," said Strahan McCarten, Director of Product Management for Hosting and Cloud Computing, Bell Business Markets. "With Office 365, Bell customers can reduce their costs and maximize their IT productivity whether they're starting a new business venture or enhancing their existing technology operations."

Paul Rowe, Vice-President of Marketing and Product Development, Bell Business Markets, and Matthew Morrison, Director of Product Marketing, Planning and Programs, Bell Business Markets, joined Strahan McCarten and all of the Microsoft Syndicated partners from across the globe at the world premier event in New York city, and participated in many media briefings as well as a Panel Discussion for TelecomTV's The Cloud Channel.

Links to the video coverage can be found here:

TelecomTV interview with Paul Rowe

TelecomTV panel: The Cloud Opportunity with SMBs

You can also read the following release from CNW Group, Lack of uptake of Cloud technology leads Canadian businesses to risk chance at growth.

Why Bell for Office 365?

Bell will provide Canadian businesses of all sizes with an end-to-end, best-in-class service offering for Office 365 which includes:

• Professional services for assessments, migration, training and integration with Microsoft on-premise and mobile device Internet access bundles (including DSL Access -BID, BI, MPLS to Internet)
• Integration support for hybrid Microsoft online and on-premise (Lync) architectures to ensure ease of use and co-existence
• Best-in-class 24/7/365 bilingual help desk support
• A unique "one bill" system for all services rendered, and,
• An Office 365 application as part of the Bell Business Apps store for quick and simplified online ordering

Please visit bell.ca/office365-en for additional information on Bell's Microsoft Online Services, or request to be contacted by a Bell representative.

To access the Business Apps Store for Office 365, visit bell.ca/office365app.