JSE-listed Vodacom, SA's largest cellular network, will offer bundles with Microsoft's Office 365 tools, in an exclusive deal, from the end of this month, through Vodacom Business.
The operator will initially launch eight broadband offerings that include the cloud-based document suite, before offering the service as an add-on to existing deals. The service will be bundled with Vodacom's broadband connectivity products aimed at small and medium sized enterprises.
Microsoft launched Office 365 in SA on 27 June. Depending on user options, Office 365 as a standalone offering will cost R46.50 a user, per month.
Office 365 brings together Microsoft Office, Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Exchange Online and Microsoft Lync Online. The service debuted on a trial basis last year, and has seen more than 10 000 companies globally take part in the beta program.
Vodacom's aim is to take the offering to market at the end of next month, at the latest. Chris Lazarus, managing executive of Vodacom Business Services, says eight bundles will initially be offered, which tie up Internet connectivity with the service.
Exclusive deal
Uriel Rootshtain, Office business lead, says Microsoft has a limited number of partners globally and is using Vodacom exclusively in SA. He says this makes sense as the software giant already has a relationship with Vodacom's parent company, Vodafone.
Lazarus explains that the service is hosted in Microsoft's Europe-based data centre, as this allows for economies of scale. He says the aim is to move towards a seamless experience.
Rootshtain says the service is enterprise-class and allows people to use an offline Web interface to work on documents and then log on later in case they do not have a connection.
Users will pay their Office 365 invoices directly to Microsoft, either by account or credit card, when buying from a reseller. Essentially, they will be Microsoft customers for Office 365.
Vodacom will offer exclusive bundled deals at discounted pricing, and customers will receive Office 365 free until the end of November.
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