Microsoft Rolls Out Office 365 Video Along With Multiplatform Mobile Apps
First announced late last fall, Microsoft's video component for Office 365 is now available worldwide to its enterprise customers. Microsoft's goal here is to allow companies to relay information via video throughout the organization using apps and an interface they're familiar with. One key advantage is that companies can get off of YouTube, with its insecure "Unlisted" option.
Office 365 Video will work on any device that supports HTML5, and at the moment, there's just a single app available so far, for the iPhone. On Android? Just load up an HTML5-equipped browser, and the service should work just fine. Microsoft designed the Video interface with a responsive design, so whether on a desktop, a tablet, or a phone, it should scale properly and remain easy-to-use.
In the video above, Microsoft highlights a lot of what can be done with 365 Video. One of the key features is the ability to separate videos into categories, such as "Executive Corner" if you want to have one that only includes videos from the company's chief. Other ideas are human resources, training, and sales.
During its beta stage, Office 365 Video has enjoyed a number of important updates. At the forefront, there's increased use of "Office Graph" to help make video recommendations more personal, and all videos are now backed by a CDN that will ensure smooth playback wherever the viewer is. There's also more granular permissions management.
To access Office 365 Video, you'll need to have an E1, E3, or E4 subscription, or A2, A3, or A4 for academic customers. Microsoft notes that government plans are in the works.