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Free eBook: Microsoft Office 365: Connect and Collaborate Virtually Anywhere, Anytime

1537.9780735656949f_24D9CACF

We are very excited to announce that we are able to offer Microsoft Office 365: Connect and Collaborate Virtually Anywhere, Anytime (ISBN 9780735656949), by Katherine Murray, as a free eBook.

For details on this book, including the Table of Contents, see our previous blog post here.

To download your free PDF eBook, click here. Updates to this eBook, as well as additional eBook formats, will become available in the future, so check this blog for updates.

To download an EPUB or a MOBI version of this eBook, click here.

 

Introduction (excerpt)

Let’s hear it for freedom. Freedom from your desk. Freedom from those ­boring managers’ meetings. Freedom to work anywhere, with anyone, anytime, on almost any device. Sounds good, right?

Office 365 is Microsoft’s smart and simple answer to cloud computing. Using the various programs in Office 365, you can do all the tasks you’re used to doing in your favorite Office applications—write documents, create presentations, check email, manage your calendar, crunch numbers, and more—and then share what you create in real time on a team site, design and publish a website, and even create and host live online meetings while you’re traveling on the train, sitting in a coffee shop, or dialing in on your phone.

This book shows you how you can use cloud computing—and ­specifically, ­Office 365—to get more done, collaborate more easily, and work more ­flexibly than you ever have before. From the necessary how-tos about ­creating and administering your Office 365 account and working with the various Office 365 programs to sharing files with your team, creating a team site, using Office Web Apps, and holding online meetings, you’ll discover how easy it is to work online and off, accessing and sharing your files whenever you need to. After you learn about each of the core programs, you can try strategies for building successful teams, and get some good ideas on practical ways you can put all this cloud power to work.

Who This Book Is For

Microsoft Office 365: Connect and Collaborate Virtually Anywhere, Anytime is all about cloud solutions for small businesses, focusing on the core software services (Microsoft Exchange Online, Microsoft SharePoint Online, Office Web Apps, and Microsoft Lync), and demonstrating ways you can create, manage, and lead teams effectively using the communications and collaborative online tools.

You’ll find helpful ideas and solutions in Office 365 if you

· Own or work in a small business and want to be flexible where and when you work.

· Need to collaborate with others near or far.

· Want to store and work with files online from any point you have web access.

· Lead a team online or face to face.

What Is Cloud Computing?

The phrase cloud computing brings to mind for me the feeling of stretching out on a hillside on a summer day while my sons pointed out the animals and shapes they saw in the clouds above. Cloud computing is a little like that—the ability of your technology to take on the shape you need for the type of ­project you need to accomplish. Want to put together a project team? You can do that in the cloud so that team members all over the globe can ­collaborate and communicate easily. Need to create a meeting space for your regional sales reps? You can create a team site for everyone in the cloud, ­using web ­servers and software, and you can enable every person to log in from any point they have access to the web.

So where is this cloud? The real definition of the phrase cloud ­computing ­simply means the ability to access files and applications online through ­multiple devices—your ­computer, browser, or phone. Microsoft has already been offering cloud services through the web in various ways:

· Windows Live SkyDrive is one of the Windows Live Services, a free ­web-based ­application that enables you to save, store, organize, and share files easily.

· Microsoft Office Web Apps are available for Word 2010, PowerPoint 2010, Excel 2010, and OneNote 2010, making it possible for you to save and work with your Office files online and collaborate with other authors. Office 2010 Web Apps are free to registered Office 2010 users.

· Microsoft Office Live Small Business is a web-based suite of services that enable you to create and market a website, communicate with others by email and instant messaging, and store and share files online. The basic services are free, and you can add specialty features for a monthly fee.

· Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS) is a suite of ­messaging and communications programs designed to provide the kind of collaboration support companies need. BPOS includes ­Microsoft Exchange Online, Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Office ­Communications Online, and Office Live Meeting, all for a monthly, per-user fee.

The best news about cloud computing for you as an end user is the added flexibility the services offer you, without additional investment in either hardware or software. You can simply use your web browser—which is open anyway, right?—to get to the files you need to work with, make any changes, and save and share the files as you see fit.

The great thing about cloud computing for companies is that it enables them to expand the services they offer both staff and customers without ­adding to their own hardware infrastructure. Web services enable companies to connect workers and make collaboration possible on a global scale without adding servers, setting up datacenters, and more. The environment is secure, ­flexible, and expandable to accommodate as many users as businesses need to ­support.

Introducing Office 365

Microsoft Office 365 is Microsoft’s latest venture into cloud computing, ­bringing ­together tried-and-true programs that make communicating and collaboration ­natural online. Office 365 includes Microsoft Exchange Online for email and scheduling, ­Microsoft SharePoint Online for sharing files and creating team sites, and Microsoft Lync Online for instant messaging and ­online meeting. Office 365 mixes the capabilities of those programs with cloud versions of Office Professional Plus programs.

What Cloud Computing Means for You

Office 365 makes using Office in the cloud a simple, natural, and affordable way to make the most of services you are already familiar with, in ways that easily extend the ­technology you are probably already using. Sound too good to be true? It’s not. ­Office 365 enables you to easily and naturally

· Collaborate globally in real time.

· Use programs you already know.

· Create a virtual office where you can work with information securely while you’re on the go.

· Use your PC, browser, or phone interchangeably.

· Keep your information secure.

· Keep your hardware costs down.

· Use multiple devices to access and work with files.

· Create a shared team site.

· Boost productivity by making it easy for people to work together.

· Give users instant access to each other with presence technology and instant ­messaging.

· Incorporate social networking in your team communication.

Office 365 Versions

Because different types of organizations and businesses have different needs, three ­different versions of Office 365 are available for end users. These three versions are

· Office 365 for small businesses Small businesses and professionals who don’t have large IT requirements will find just the set of tools they need in Office 365 for small businesses. This version is easy to try (free for 30 days) and then low-cost ($6 per user per month at the time of this book’s publication), and it offers businesses Office Web Apps, Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Exchange Online, and Microsoft Lync for instant messaging and online meetings.

· Office 365 for enterprises Enterprises have larger-scale IT needs than small businesses or individuals, requiring software that can handle a large number of email accounts, messages, and attachments; provide guaranteed uptime; offer reporting and support options; and deliver Active Directory features that enable a single sign-in for end users. ­Office 365 for enterprises offers all these features and adds on to standard BPOS services to extend the collaboration and online meeting capabilities. Office 365 for enterprises also offers flexible plans so that businesses of different sizes can tailor the features to get just the kind of cloud support they need.

· Office 365 for education Educational users face a unique set of challenges—they need to provide students with access to the latest software possible, but they have to do it on a shoestring (and perhaps diminishing) budget. Cloud-based services can help users in education save money and give students the tools they need to create projects, collaborate in real time, and learn how to use software in the cloud.

What Does Office 365 Add to BPOS?

Microsoft Business Productivity Online Standard Suite, also known as BPOS, has 40 million users all over the world. This highly successful online software suite offers communication and collaboration ­features that make it easy to connect in real time and work together on ­projects large and small.

Office 365 for enterprises extends the features of BPOS by adding Microsoft Lync for instant messaging and online meetings, Outlook Web App for management of email and scheduling, Office Web Apps, and the ability to create reports and administer the account through a web-based dashboard. The educational version of Office 365 also includes the latest version of Microsoft Live@Edu, which ­offers cloud solutions to thousands of schools and millions of students around the globe.

A Quick Roadmap

Microsoft Office 365: Connect and Collaborate Virtually Anywhere, Anytime is organized in three parts to help you learn about different aspects of setting up and ­working with Office 365.

Part I, “Finding Your Place in the Cloud,” takes a look at the way people are working in the cloud today and introduces you to Office 365. Chapter 1 looks closely at teams, both inside and outside the office environment, and it takes a look at the way Office 365 offers a greener choice for small businesses. Chapter 2 shows you how to create an Office 365 account and set up a profile, and it gives you a big-picture tour of Office 365 so that you can begin planning just what you want to do with the tools. Chapter 3 is for the team manager or person who will be managing the Office 365 site; you’ll learn how to ­customize the site, add mobile devices, and set up and manage Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft SharePoint, and Microsoft Lync online.

Part II, “Teamwork in the Cloud,” is your guide to setting up, organizing, ­managing, and helping your team be successful using Office 365. ­Chapter 4 spotlights all the team features you can use to get everybody on the same page, calendar-wise; you’ll also find out how to share files, hold online ­meetings, instant message each other, and broadcast presentations. Chapter 5 walks you through creating, editing, and sharing a team site. Chapter 6 shows you how to create document libraries, share files with team members, and manage the files in SharePoint Online. You’ll also find out about working with file versions, tracking file changes, and comparing and merging files. Chapter 7 shows you how to create and use workflows to keep your team moving in the right direction, and Chapter 8 introduces all things Web App by shining a light on the capabilities of the various tools and showing you how to work with files online, coauthor documents, edit worksheets, broadcast presentations, and share notebooks. Chapter 9 rounds out this part of Office 365 by focusing on mobile technologies: find out how to use the various Office Mobile applications to review, edit, and share the files you develop with your team.

Part III, “Connecting in Real Time,” shows you how to use the ­communication and instant-messaging options in Office 365 to stay in touch with your team in real time. In Chapter 10, “Email and Organize with Office 365,” you learn how to use Outlook Web App to import and manage contacts, set email preferences, organize mail ­folders, work with your calendars and tasks, and more. Chapter 11, “Talking it Over with Microsoft Lync,” shows you how to connect in real time to other online users through instant ­messaging, voice calls, and online chats. You’ll learn how to manage transcripts, invite others to the ­conversation, and host web meetings. Chapter 12, “Designing Your ­Public Website,” shows you how to use the web tools in Office 365 to create a ­website to ­showcase your products and services and give your customers a sense of who you are and what you offer. Chapter 13, “Integrating Office 365,” presents a set of examples that show how you and your team can use the ­various tools in Office 365 together to create and share business projects.

 

 

About the Author

Katherine Murray has been writing articles and best-selling books about Microsoft Office in all its flavors since it was first released. She’s taught hundreds of thousands of Office users how to be productive (and creative) in Microsoft Word 2010 Inside Out, Microsoft Office 2010 Plain & Simple, and Microsoft Word 2010 Plain & Simple, as well as through her many articles on CNET’s TechRepublic and in Windows Secrets. Katherine is also a member of the Society of Environmental Journalists and writes frequently about earth care topics. Her book, Green Home Computing for Dummies, was published by Wiley in 2009.

Katherine’s blog and website, BlogOffice, has inspired and educated Office users since 2002. Her new Office 365 companion site, Connect & Collaborate,offers an ongoing source of how-to’s, tips, and strategic case studies for Office users and IT professionals who want to efficiently and successfully work in the Cloud. Katherine’s focus is on delivering essential techniques and insights to help members of virtual teams who may be developing workflow strategies and managing projects, as well as those who are tasked with bringing those projects—simple or complex—to completion.

Readers of this eBook, Microsoft® Office 365: Connect and Collaborate Virtually Anywhere, Anytime, can sign up for Katherine’s free
monthly Office 365 newsletter “Connect & Collaborate” by clicking here, and can receive Katherine’s Video Tip of the Month by clicking here.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    August 17, 2011
    ePub?

  • Anonymous
    August 17, 2011
    As the post says, "Updates to this eBook, as well as additional eBook formats, will become available in the future, so check this blog for updates."

  • Anonymous
    August 17, 2011
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 17, 2011
    Any chance you can change the download file name from a bunch of numbers to something more meaningful, like "Office365"?

  • Anonymous
    August 17, 2011
    Why is this a pdf instead of a real eBook? PDF is not the same as everyone with an eReader knows.

  • Anonymous
    August 18, 2011
    Rene - Thank you for your comment and review. Office 365 is an ever-changing product, and at this time it is difficult to create a static book about the product. This is a big part of the reason that we are offering this as a free eBook followed by (also free) eBook revisions. You should have been contacted already by someone from Microsoft Press to discuss compensation since you bought the Kindle edition. Thanks! DF Berry - Sorry, the link we provide is the link to the Microsoft Download Center. John - As the post says, "Updates to this eBook, as well as additional eBook formats, will become available in the future, so check this blog for updates." We wanted to get this book out right away, which meant releasing as a PDF eBook.

  • Anonymous
    August 18, 2011
    Thank you for providing this. Christopher Central Data Financial Systems

  • Anonymous
    August 20, 2011
    Interesting that a MS Press ebook is only published in PDF format. I guess we're not that interested in promoting XPS format any more...

  • Anonymous
    August 26, 2011
    Hi to all who are looking for a ePub version. I found I could download one from o'Reilly (you get there by clicking on the link at the beginning of the introduction). Only thing: You should already have an account or create one before being able to download.

  • Anonymous
    September 01, 2011
    Great. I was looking for a book about Office 365 and finally I got it for free

  • Anonymous
    September 06, 2011
    Shame there is no content on managing Office 365 Using PowerShell

  • Anonymous
    September 07, 2011
    I agree...I love this product, but trying to use PowerShell to administer it for us non-programmers is a nightmare without some documentation.

  • Anonymous
    September 07, 2011
    Excellent work--thanks so much for making it available for free!  

  • Anonymous
    September 07, 2011
    So don't user powershell. It is rediculous anyway. Anything that powerful should have a gui to run on. I hate having to spell such long, meaningless typings.

  • Anonymous
    September 07, 2011
    So where is the book to download?

  • Anonymous
    September 07, 2011
    epub would be nice

  • Anonymous
    September 07, 2011
    Thank you mircosoft for technology and contributions to our educational institutions.

  • Anonymous
    September 07, 2011
    do work in anywhere,anytime

  • Anonymous
    September 07, 2011
    Thank you for providing this. usefull and informative

  • Anonymous
    September 07, 2011
    Thanks for the ebook and joined your mailing list. Looking forward to learning more.

  • Anonymous
    September 07, 2011
    Thanks for the ebook and joined your mailing list. Looking forward to learning more.

  • Anonymous
    September 07, 2011
    E-books and electronic books are future with huge market potential for Microsoft to lead the way. I never understand why these e-books offers from Microsoft in PDF formats. It is about time to change for good and Microsoft should reconsider its strategy with open platform for worldwide customers.

  • Anonymous
    September 07, 2011
    Dear john, eBooks used to be almost always in pdf until the latest versions of portable ebook readers came out.

  • Anonymous
    September 07, 2011
    Dear john, eBooks used to be almost always in pdf until the latest versions of portable ebook readers came out.

  • Anonymous
    September 07, 2011
    Thankx

  • Anonymous
    September 08, 2011
    Here's the download link for anyone who missed the link in the main article  download.microsoft.com/.../656949ebook.pdf

  • Anonymous
    September 11, 2011
    excellent!

  • Anonymous
    September 11, 2011
    Thank you for the e-material

  • Anonymous
    September 13, 2011
    Thanks Heaps, really usefull

  • Anonymous
    September 14, 2011
    Geweldig verblijd met dit boek. Lotgenoten veel plezier hiermee.

  • Anonymous
    September 16, 2011
    Where is the download link for the EBook..........

  • Anonymous
    September 21, 2011
    Gracias por compartirlo...lo leeremos y evaluaremos las posibilidades brindadas. Saludos.

  • Anonymous
    September 27, 2011
    Thanks a lot~ great job!

  • Anonymous
    October 02, 2011
    Great Office 365 eBook, I try to more learn Microsoft. The Best Microsoft is one.

  • Anonymous
    October 14, 2011
    Emmanuel - the link to the book is in the very first sentence. Click on the link:  Connect and Collaborate Virtually Anywhere, Anytime

  • Anonymous
    April 20, 2012
    Where are the updates? I downloaded this for Sharepoint admin which has changed since the Beta that the book is written for. Is there a new version?

  • Anonymous
    May 27, 2012
    I had to go to Amazon to download it - it's listed as free in the Kindle format.

  • Anonymous
    May 29, 2012
    Thank you for great eBook!

  • Anonymous
    June 27, 2012
    how to download this book.

  • Anonymous
    July 08, 2012
    How we download this book..

  • Anonymous
    August 07, 2012
    "Updates to this eBook, as well as additional eBook formats, will become available in the future, so check this blog for updates." We wanted to get this book out right away, which meant releasing as a PDF eBook. Yes we can read that...but don't you think that with O365 having been in production for a year some updates would have been released?

  • Anonymous
    September 30, 2012
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    June 26, 2013
    Интересно.

  • Anonymous
    June 26, 2013
    Интересно.

  • Anonymous
    October 22, 2013
    Thank you very much for your efforts, and added your products' ebook for free is highly appreciated.

  • Anonymous
    November 13, 2013
    Thanks for providing all details.

  • Anonymous
    November 15, 2013
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    January 06, 2014
    Thank you!

  • Anonymous
    June 12, 2014
    Excellent read. Thanks Microsoft for making it available for absolutely FREE

  • Anonymous
    November 01, 2014
    The ebook is Great,it has helped me learn more about Office365 which i had no idea about.

  • Anonymous
    September 04, 2015
    Thanks, I Interesting about that office 365

  • Anonymous
    November 23, 2015
    Is there an update for Office 365/2016? Specifically for SharePoint?

  • Anonymous
    April 03, 2016
    Thanks For Sharing This!

  • Anonymous
    December 13, 2016
    Thanks

  • Anonymous
    December 13, 2017
    Thank you for this wonderfull free book