This article is about Microsoft SharePoint Online and the Microsoft SharePoint Services which is also sometimes mentioned as SharePoint in the cloud. It is not about the Windows SharePoint Services which have to be installed on a server.
So what are these things and what can I do with them? In order to understand Microsoft SharePoint Online and the Microsoft SharePoint Services we first need to understand Application Platforms in general and the Azure Services Platform.
Application platforms
David Chappell himself gave an introduction to the Cloud Platform and the Azure Services Platform at TechEd EMEA 2008 in Barcelona. The following presentation is mainly based on his work as well as work by Microsoft:
So in general we have applications running on platforms consisting of an operation system like Windows and a runtime environment like .NET. The application itself is developed with an IDE like Visual Studio. The system with the application is part of an environment consisting of
- Mechanisms for persisting data (SQL Server, SharePoint lists)
- Communication and processes (BizTalk Server)
- Identity management (Active Directory).
Most companies today use on-premise software which means the software is running on an infrastructure inside the companies buildings.
Another kind of application platform is the Cloud Platform where Cloud Services are running which can be divided into the following categories:
- Software as a Service (SaaS): The application runs in the cloud and can be operated by the browser. (like an online CRM system)
- Attached Services: The application runs in house and uses additional services from the cloud. (like Windows Update)
- Cloud Services: On-premise software or applications from the cloud are enhanced with additional functionalities.
The combination of on-premise Software and Cloud Services is called Software + Services (S+S) which just means software running on an infrastructure in house plus additional functionalities from the cloud.
Azure Services Platform
The Azure Services Platform is a combination of different technologies in the cloud:
Source: What is the Azure Services Platform?
- Windows Azure: A Windows based runtime for applications with the possibility to store data.
- .NET Services: The services offer interfaces for access control, communication and workflows.
- SQL Services: The services offer an interface for storing data.
- Live Services: The services offer a framework where you can access the Microsoft Live applications and their data.
- SharePoint Services & Dynamics CRM Services: These services offer functionality for collaboration.
All technologies from the Azure Services Platform can be used independently or together.
Conclusion
If we summarize the things above we have the following SharePoint platforms:
On-premise:
- Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 (and earlier versions)
- Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 (and earlier versions)
Cloud platform:
- Microsoft SharePoint Online
- Microsoft SharePoint Services
The next chapter is about the Microsoft Online Services, Microsoft SharePoint Online and the Microsoft SharePoint Services.
Microsoft SharePoint Online and Microsoft SharePoint Services
Microsoft SharePoint Online
Microsoft SharePoint Online is part of the Microsoft Online Services which contains:
As you can see SharePoint Online is just a part of a whole suite offered by Microsoft.
Microsoft SharePoint Online Functionality – Standard vs. MOSS 2007 (on-premise)
Yes there are 2 versions of Microsoft SharePoint Online! It’s like MOSS 2007 Standard and Enterprise: The standard version is called Microsoft SharePoint Online Standard and the version with more functionality is called Microsoft SharePoint Online Dedicated.
The following chart is part of a document provided by Microsoft showing the features of Microsoft SharePoint Online Standard compared with MOSS 2007 Enterprise. The document is linked below the picture.
Source: Microsoft SharePoint Online Standard Developer Guide (Published: December 2008)
There is even a more detailed document: SharePoint Online Standard Service Description Dec 2008 update. Comparing the online standard version with the on-premise MOSS 2007 Enterprise there are the following (in my opinion) most important limitations:
- No presence
- No mail enabled lists
- No standard meeting site templates
- No social networking
- No audience targeting
- No My Sites / site directory
- No aggregate WebParts
- No User Profiles import
- No content staging, publishing and deployment
- No cross site search, people search, enterprise content sources
- No business intelligence features
- No MOSS out of the box workflows / custom code workflows
- No anonymous / extranet access
- …
If you want more functionality you should take a look at the dedicated version. ;)
Microsoft SharePoint Online Functionality – Dedicated vs. MOSS 2007 (on-premise)
I don’t know if Microsoft is offering the dedicated version right know but if they do you will almost get the functionality of the MOSS 2007 server:
- No mail enabled lists
- No aggregate WebParts
- No business data WebParts
- No anonymous / extranet access
- …
That sounds really nice! Doesn’t it? :)
Business value and Pricing
Hmm, but why should I use Microsoft SharePoint Online? Well you
- can add new resources when you require them and pay with your credit card.
- can remove not required resources.
- don’t have to worry about backup, updates, virus protection, performance and high availability.
- you can reduce costs.
And pricing? Take a look:
There is also a trial version available for people living in the USA.
Microsoft SharePoint Services
Ok, now there are a lot of things about Microsoft SharePoint Online but what are the Microsoft SharePoint Services? The Microsoft SharePoint Team Blog says:
“In the future, developers will have access to SharePoint functionality in the Azure Services Platform (“Microsoft SharePoint Services”). With the flexibility to use familiar developer tools like Visual Studio, developers will be able to rapidly build applications that utilize SharePoint capabilities as building blocks for their own applications. Developers can expect a breadth of SharePoint capabilities across the spectrum of on-premises, Online and the Azure Services Platform.”
Conclusion
Since I’m living in Switzerland I’m sad because I can’t subscribe for the trial version. :( All jokes aside… Microsoft SharePoint Online is an alternative to on-premise solutions you should consider. If you are a bank and have to fulfill security requirements and laws then it’s probably nothing for you. But if you are a small or medium company then it is perfect because you don’t have to keep the hardware in your cellar if you don’t need the service anymore. And yeah SharePoint Online will be available in Switzerland too. ;)