Words from the good Doctor...
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Microsoft has been talking about entering the Software as a Service (SaaS) market for the past several years, both in their Office suite of products, as well as their solutions for business. The solutions for business we should see in the next year or so, but Microsoft has announced their foray into SaaS (software available via a subscription-like service over the Internet and not locally installed.) Equipt (beta tested as Albany earlier in the year) includes a version of Office Home and Student 2007; Windows Live OneCare, Microsoft’s PC management/security bundle; a few Windows Live communication and collaboration services; and Office Live Workspace, Microsoft’s online-collaboration add-on to Office. The pricing is $69 and the software can be run on up to three Windows PCs. Comparably priced Office Home and Student 2007 is $129 and three years of OneCare is $90, making the breakeven for Equipt three years. With new updates coming out every two years, this makes Equipt a pretty good deal, assuming you have high-speed Internet. |
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Microsoft Equipt is a subscription service that,
in one easy installation, delivers security and performance with
Windows Live OneCare plus Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007
and other essential tools to help home PC users be more protected,
productive and connected.
Windows Live OneCare offers all-in-one security
and PC management by combining anti-malware protection, centralized
backup and PC maintenance features. Office Home
and Student 2007 contains Word 2007, Excel 2007, PowerPoint 2007 and
OneNote 2007. Note Outlook not included. If you purchase Microsoft
Equipt, you can also extend your Office experience via Microsoft Office
Live Workspace, a new service from Microsoft for saving and sharing
documents to a dedicated online Workspace.
You can purchase an annual subscription of Microsoft Equipt for $69.99 (estimated retail
price). You can install each subscription on up to three home
PCs. Version upgrades for both Office Home and Student and
OneCare, plus updated virus definitions, are automatic at no additional
cost.
SaaS will be old news soon, as more software is released to run as a service. Some pundits are even projecting that Microsoft may offer the Windows Operating System to run this way. But, whatever happens, the move is still dependent on high-speed quality Internet access at a point-in-time where Internet providers in some parts of the country are struggling to keep up with demand and seeing cost escalate and profits on Internet services drop. Combined with the move to Internet- based phone services, the infrastructure may not be able to keep up with demand. Interesting times we live in.
A Call for Help
I have been hearing from a number of conference and seminar attendees about state and federal legislative requirements to redact sensitive client information, such as Social Security Numbers and even Signatures ,when sending such documents electronically. However, while this makes sense, I have done a fair amount of research and do not find specific information directed specifically to accountants or the profession. There is considerable guidance for city clerks and state records managers, but little otherwise. I obviously feel that this is a quickly evolving area of concern and want to keep on top of it for my attendees. For those of you who stop by and visit, and have specific URLs that I can refer to, would you please let me know so that I can continue researching and spreading the word to accountants as new laws are adopted?
Posted July 15, 2008
Robert H. Spencer, PhD
Dr. Bob Spencer
Twenty Seconds In the Future
1522 Knob Hill Road
Elizabethtown Kentucky 42701
270.300.9550
About Dr. Bob What
about Bob?
Where is Bob?
Dr. Bob Spencer, President of Twenty Seconds In the Future, is a
widely published writer, and well known educator and consultant who lectures
internationally to a wide range of business and educational audiences. With
nearly 40 years experience in business and technology, he has authored more than
a dozen books, ranging from Risk Management, Accounting Software Selection and
Implementation, Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning, ECM
(Paperless) Implementation and Technology Best Practices.
This site supports much of the creative works of Dr. Spencer and
provides visitors free downloadable articles, links to free software.
Copyright Robert H. Spencer, PhD 2008 All rights Reserved