BPOS, Microsoft’s Business Productivity Online Suite, is a collection of Microsoft-hosted cloud applications. They include SharePoint Online, Communications Online, Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Office Live Meeting and Forefront Online Security for Exchange.
As Microsoft has told customers and partners that it will be phasing in various capabilities introduced with its on-premises SharePoint 2010, Exchange 2010 and the still in the wings Communicator 2010 products into BPOS. Microsoft also will be adding in the upcoming months support for single sign-on with identity federation, a redesigned console user interface and more granular administrator and access controls for BPOS.
Microsoft will also be integrating Office 2010 support into the suite, In the coming months. This will be both in terms of adding SignIn application support for Outlook 2010 and Office client/Web Apps integration with SharePoint Online support, as well.
On the back-end, there will be a new optional service connector to replace the current service agent. This connector will install updates required for BPOS through Windows Update, and configure client apps like Internet Explore, Communicator, and Outlook. Those who do not want automatic updates will still be able to update client machines manually or by using group policy or System Center.
Microsoft will also support the ability to sign in using Microsoft Online IDs. Here, users and administrators will have two IDs: One is for the cloud and one is for on-premises. The IDs will be administered both in the cloud and locally on-premises.
On the security front, Microsoft will provide BPOS identity security by adding the ability to sign into the cloud using corporate IDs. There will be a single sign-on option for both end users and administrators. However, there will be a two-factor authentication option. Identity will be administered only on-premises.
On the mobile front, Microsoft is introducing a Blackberry portal capability. BPOS users will have self-service management available if they are running OS 4.5 or higher. They will be able to manage Blackberry licenses, user activation, remotely wipe devices and reset activation passwords via this portal.
