Microsoft recently changed the name of its flagship product from Office 365 to Microsoft 365. According to the software giant, the name change was a part of natural evolution. Microsoft 365 began in 2017 as an enterprise offering that contained a combination of Windows, Office, and Enterprise Mobility and Security. The name change better reflects the integration between other service offerings that often blur the lines between clearly defined products.
Microsoft states that the name change “reflects the range of features and benefits in the subscription,” and simplifies their offerings. It’s a change that may take some getting used to, but in the end, it will be easier for users to compare the different offerings and select the one that aligns more closely with the needs of the organization.
What Changes Should You Expect?
At this time, it’s a change in name alone. There will be no new features added. This doesn’t mean that features we were expecting to see in the future such as password security monitoring will not be included in the M365 family subscriptions. There is no change in price for your current subscription either.
According to Microsoft 365 corporate vice president Jared Spataro, “For small and medium-sized businesses, M365 includes new capabilities in Microsoft Teams to help you host rich meetings and events online; cloud file storage and sharing capabilities so you can collaborate from anywhere, and security and identity solutions to safeguard your business. At a moment when businesses are facing extraordinary health and economic challenges, we are pleased to bring our consumer and small and medium-sized business customers into this growing M365 family.”
Office 365 for Enterprise, Firstline Workers, Education, and Government are not changing at this time but Office 365 ProPlus that is included with some of those “enterprise style” plans be renamed to “Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.” Because of this name change, you may have to adjust some existing workflows and update your internal documentation.
Below is a list of a few product name changes you should be aware of:
- Office 365 Business Essentials is now Microsoft 365 Business Basic.
- Office 365 Business Essentials is now Microsoft 365 Business Basic .
- Microsoft 365 Business is now Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
- Microsoft 365 Business is now Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
Business users may be wondering if prices or plans for Microsoft Suites will be changing. Currently, none of the plans are going away. The same plans are available, only with updated names. And in the case of Office 365 Enterprise, the name will remain the same and there will be no change. The price of each suite is also remaining the same. Users will notice a change in name only on their invoices.
All M365 Business and M365 apps for enterprise plans are available for customers on April 21st. Clients with Office 365 Business, Office 365 Business Essentials, Office 365 Premium or M365 Business plans do not need to take any additional actions as all changes mentioned will automatically happen.
This change from Office 365 to Microsoft 365 will bring minor updates to your business operations. The features that your business has been using will continue to be readily available without service interruption. In fact, there are many benefits you may not be taking advantage of that you have with Microsoft 365. For a limited time, we’re offering a $99 Microsoft 365 consultation with our team of experts. Contact us today with any questions or start your consultation today!
