Close to 500 local software companies will benefit through Microsoft’s cloud-powered productivity suite, Office 365, ahead of the AEC
BANGKOK, 03 February 2015– In efforts to increase the competitiveness of Thailand’s software industry ahead of the ASEAN Economic Community, Microsoft (Thailand) Limited today announces its partnership with the Association of Thai Software Industry (ATSI) to support and promote the local software companies.
ATSI represents approximately 500 software companies in Thailand. Through this partnership with Microsoft, member companies of ATSI will receive training on Office 365 and 24/7 technical frontline support during the testing and implementation phases of the cloud-based productivity suite. To encourage greater cloud adoption and increase the productivity of the workforce through technology, member companies of ATSI will also receive special prices for the purchase of Office 365. With the deployment of Office 365, local software companies will have access to:
- The familiar and powerful Office applications such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and OneNote;
- Enjoy 1TB of storage on OneDrive for Business and Office Online;
- Full Office suite to install on up to five PCs or Macs, up to five tablets and up to five smartphones per user, and unlock the editing capabilities of Office apps for iPad;
- Enterprise-grade privacy and security features across the full suite of Office 365 applications.
The partnership with Microsoft will also see the promotion and marketing of software companies who develop applications on Office 365 through training and other existing initiatives such as leveraging Microsoft’s partner network and enterprise matchmaking. This initiative will elevate locally-developed technology and applications by Thai software companies to the global stage.
“With the spotlight cast on both the digital economy policy and the integration of the AEC, 2015 will prove to be a turning point for cloud adoption and Microsoft is proud to be driving the cloud momentum in Thailand,” said Haresh Khoobchandani, Managing Director, Microsoft (Thailand) Limited. “Our partnership with ATSI is a cornerstone for Thailand’s software industry. We are putting the best-in-class suite of productivity tools in the hands of local software companies, who in turn would be developing applications on Office 365 – and Microsoft is looking forward to bringing these locally-developed technologies to the global arena,” he added.
“With the impending AEC, it is crucial that Thai software companies are able to compete on the same level as their regional counterparts, and this means utilizing cloud technology and solutions to enable our workforce for greater agility and productivity,” said Somporn Maneeratanakul, President, Association of the Thai Software Industry (ATSI). “We chose to partner Microsoft to provide Office 365 to our member companies because the benefits are clear: collaboration and communication would be more seamless and effective, the companies would see more return on their IT investments, and most importantly, the software companies get to enjoy world-class privacy and security features, protecting their customers’ information online and the information in relation to their technologies.”
Office 365 recorded a 1,000% growth in Thailand in 2013 and Microsoft expects at least a 400% growth in 2014. Globally, in commercial cloud, Microsoft continues to be the only company growing cloud revenue at triple-digit rates and annualized revenue run rate of $5.5 billion. Microsoft Office 365 has been adopted by 110 million users, of whom 9.2 million are in the consumer segment. Thai companies and organizations who have already adopted Office 365 include Nok Air, Thai Smile, Dusit International, Diethelm Travel, Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), members of the Office of SME Promotion (OSMEP), and Thai Red Cross among others. The flexibility of Office apps to work on any device, coupled with world-class security and privacy standards including ISO 27001 and European Union certifications, Office 365 has become the preferred cloud service for businesses of all sizes around the world.
To find out more about Office 365 for software companies, please contact ATSI at (tel.) 0 2962 1348; (fax) 0 2962 1349; or (email) [email protected].
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About Microsoft Thailand
Established in 1993, Microsoft (Thailand) Limited aims to Make 70 Million Lives Better by enabling Thai people and businesses to realize their full potential through technology that transforms the way people work, play, and communicate. We offer software, services, and devices that deliver new opportunities, greater convenience, and enhanced value to people’s lives. Working with communities and the Thai government, Microsoft and its partners are committed to working closely with organizations and people across Thailand to fully harness the power of technology and innovation.
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For more information, press only:
Pornravee Suramool
Hill+Knowlton Strategies Thailand
Tel: 0-2627-3501 ext. 110 or 081-735-9213
E-mail: [email protected]