Microsoft wins contract for cloud computing with University of Arizona
The University of Arizona at Tuscon – the state’s flagship university – recently announced that it has awarded Microsoft with its contract to handle the school’s planned shift to cloud computing.
Starting next fall, the school’s students and faculty will use Microsoft’s Business Productivity Suite in place of their current email system.
Both students and faculty will also have the option to use Microsoft’s Web Apps for free rather than purchasing Office, which can be expensive for college students.
The school hopes that increased collaboration opportunities provided by Microsoft’s cloud computing programs will help the school save money by reducing printing costs and spending related to software licenses.
“In addition to updating the university’s numerous and antiquated email and calendaring programs to one centralized system, employees will get 10 gigabyte mailboxes and new features such as instant messaging, presence and online meetings with the ability to share their desktop, audio or video,” Microsoft said.
