At the start of a new year, self-improvement is top of mind. We all aspire to make a bigger difference in the world and become a better version of ourselves: better students, parents, writers, cooks, athletes, and so on. That’s why we’re excited to share details about how Microsoft 365 is getting better with lower-cost membership options and simpler experiences that make it easier than ever to achieve your goals.
Windows 11
Today, we’re introducing Microsoft 365 Basic, the newest way to get started with Microsoft 365. With Microsoft 365 Basic, we’re making premium subscription benefits available to even more people at a great price. Initially, Microsoft 365 Basic will include essential peace of mind benefits like 100 gigabytes (GB) of cloud storage, ad-free and secure email with Outlook, and access to support experts for help with Microsoft 365 and Windows 11. And we plan to make Microsoft 365 Basic even better with advanced security features like ransomware recovery and password-protected sharing links in OneDrive later in 2023. Microsoft 365 Basic will cost only USD1.99 per month or USD19.99 per year and be available worldwide on January 30, 2023, through Microsoft’s website and from the OneDrive and Outlook apps.1 Existing OneDrive 100 GB subscribers will also automatically transition to Microsoft 365 Basic on January 30, 2023. While most features will be available worldwide on that day, the advanced security features in OneDrive will become available to Microsoft 365 Basic subscribers later in the year. Learn more about the Microsoft 365 Basic plan.
Did you know you can already get started with Microsoft 365 for free? All you need is a Microsoft account. Just sign in to Microsoft 365 to get access to free web-based versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, OneDrive, Clipchamp, and more, plus 5 GB of free cloud storage. The free version of Microsoft 365 has a lot to offer, but if you outgrow it, it’s easy to upgrade to a Microsoft 365 subscription to unlock more features, extra storage, and advanced security.
Compare pricing and plans today.
Next, we’re sharing updates on the Microsoft 365 app, the new home for your favorite apps and content, which we announced last October 2022. This is where we’ve given the Office app a new look, new name, and new icon by turning Office.com, the Office mobile app, and the Office app for Windows into the new Microsoft 365 app with even more capabilities.
With the Microsoft 365 app, you can quickly access apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more in one place across any device. Start a new file with a simple click or select one of the recommended templates. To keep track of your tasks, get smart recommendations to understand what needs your attention next and pick up where you left off across devices on desktop, web, or mobile app.
We are happy to announce that the Microsoft 365 app is now generally available on the web at Microsoft 365.com and will be available on Windows and mobile on both Google Play and the Apple App Store later in January 2023.
Microsoft storage
Low on storage? No problem. Starting February 1, 2023, you can easily view, manage, and upgrade your cloud storage across your devices with peace of mind knowing your photos and files are protected. With this update, you get a simplified overview of your storage usage across Microsoft 365, including OneDrive, Outlook, and more. From your Microsoft account, Windows settings, or app settings you will be able to easily manage and upgrade your storage wherever you are.
Finally, on January 29, 2023, we’ll celebrate 10 years of Microsoft 365 for individuals and families. Our original subscription plan, Office 365 Home Premium, only included the Office desktop apps for Windows and Mac plus a now modest 20 GB of cloud storage. The world has changed a lot over the last 10 years, so we continued our own journey of self-improvement by adding new features and benefits to help you keep up with the changing times. We introduced powerful mobile versions of our apps, designed to take advantage of touch input and high-resolution cameras. We increased the storage quota to 1 terabyte (TB) to keep up with richer documents and ever-growing libraries of photos and videos. As online threats grew in scale and sophistication, we added advanced security features like ransomware recovery in OneDrive and anti-phishing in Outlook.
Microsoft Defender
In 2020, we changed the name to Microsoft 365 to make room for our next generation of cloud- and AI-powered apps and features. Microsoft Family Safety helps protect the ones you love with digital safety features. Microsoft Defender helps protect your data and devices from malware. Clipchamp uses cutting-edge technology to help you create stunning videos in a flash. And by harnessing the power of AI, we’ve transformed our most well-known apps. In Word, we added features like dictation and Microsoft Editor to help you write faster and better. In PowerPoint, we added speaker coach and captions and subtitles to help you deliver well-practiced and inclusive presentations. In Excel, we added recommended charts and new functions to help you build the best budget or investment tracker. And across all these apps, we’ve expanded our library of stock images, icons, videos, fonts, templates, and more to ensure you can get started quickly and put your best foot forward.
Boost productivity with Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more—all in one place.
Although, one thing hasn’t changed over the last 10 years: the price. Microsoft 365 Personal and Family still cost only USD6.99 and USD9.99 per month, respectively.1 With Microsoft 365 Basic at USD1.99 per month and the free version of Microsoft 365, Microsoft 365 is an incredible deal for everyone.1
Learn more about Microsoft 365 and Microsoft 365 Basic today.
1Pricing is accurate as of January 2023. For additional pricing information, or to purchase Microsoft 365, see here.
Help people and teams do their best work with the apps and experiences they rely on every day to connect, collaborate, and get work done from anywhere.
Leave a Reply