Microsoft opened up the beta for Office Live, where they hope to tackle the market of the 1-10 employees segment, a very interesting move.

I registered for the beta here, and can't wait to try it. As a small business owner and building a plan to have a 4-man shop, this could prove a very very appealing alternative to shelling out important dollars (which could be used for marketing) towards extra hardware and MS' Small Biz Server.

Based on articles I've read, here is what I can assume the web feature set will be:
- A CRM life SalesForce.com
- VOIP management
- IM Management
- Data conferencing
- E-Mail hosting
- Unified communications
- Parts of Microsoft Small Biz site (formerly bCentral)

And it will NOT be a web-hosted version of MSOffice.

Here is a quick overview of the market space:

• arch-nemesis Google announced that OpenOffice would be (eventually) browswer-bound, along with other Microsoft-certified-enemy Sun
• WebEx should feel the pressure because of their WebOffice suite, which is a really interesting suite that basically competes with MS Small Biz Server (minus e-mail server).
• Citrix and WebEx could also feel the pinch if they add their LiveMeeting piece to the service (free or at a discounted rate)
• Anyone hosting Exchange servers may have to "beef up" offerings to ensure they can compete with a broader feature range.

I am looking forward to this (really!) and here is my wish list, I think you'll agree with me:
- Hosted Exchange (with all the bells & whisltes)
- Hosted Sharepoint
- Hosted "Workplace" like Weboffice
- Instant team conferencing
- Ability to share with others over the web from my desktop
- And the features listed above.
I know most of this will be pay-per-use if they show up, but I think I'd pay;

Now I want my beta!

Author: Jean Pascal Hebert, President, Socius Technologies. His new project, www.computer-secure.com, will assist beginners with their home PC security needs.