Microsoft Online Small Business Services Customer FAQ

We are committed to providing affordable, Internet-based services tailored to the needs of small businesses. On November 15, 2006 Microsoft announced the release of Microsoft® Office Live, a new breed of online services designed to help small businesses attract new customers, generate repeat business and easily manage their business online by giving them the tools to establish a Web presence as well as a variety of easy-to-use and affordable business application. Over time, Office Live will become the base from which we provide new online services and expanded solutions for our small business customers.

There are key differences in the way Microsoft Online Small Business Services and Office Live services were developed that may present a challenge for a simple, straight forward migration path. Although there are some similarities, the two services themselves don’t match up one-to-one.

We recognize that many of you would prefer to stay with the services you’ve come to know and value. That is why we are working with partners (both inside and outside of Microsoft) to give you greater options for continuing your present services or transitioning to new services where they may better meet your small business needs. We look forward to communicating information about these new options as they become available in the coming months.

You can continue to sign-in and access your services as you currently do. Sign-in links, customer support, how-tos and other support materials will continue to be available through your Member Center pages.

We are currently working to devise the best transition solutions for customers. In some cases, you will be referred to existing online service partners (as with Verizon Yellow Page Listings, for example), with other services you will receive more information about new Microsoft and/or partner services as these solutions become available.

In addition to posting information and announcements on your Member Center (the site where you access and use your current services) we will send e-mail messages to alert you of any changes well before they occur.

Our aim is to make this transition as smooth as possible. We will clearly communicate what will happen when, and what steps you can take to continue with existing services, or adopt alternate solutions. In most cases, you will be given 2-3 months to decide if these new, alternative solutions are right for you .

Because the services will not change, your online dealings with prospective and existing customers will remain the same.

While you can’t sign up for a new Microsoft Online Small Business Service subscription, you can manage your existing services through the Microsoft Billing and Account Management tools.

In addition to existing Chat and E-mail support, service how-tos and other support documents will continue to be available through your Member Center pages.

Customers who wish to move their domain(s), Web site(s) and e-mail services will be asked to establish new services with Microsoft Office Live. Like any Web site owner changing Web hosting services today, the process entails transferring your domain(s), setting up e-mail, and moving your Web site content.

While Microsoft is working on new offerings, for some of today’s Microsoft Online Small Business Services, there is not yet an equivalent available from Office Live. We are maintaining your existing online services and working with our partners to offer you more options for continuing your present services or transitioning to new services that will become available in the coming months.