14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has announced a new series of improvements for Office 365, its cloud-based productivity suite, which includes the so-called Office Delve service, previously known as Oslo.
With Office Delve, information finds you, Julia White, general manager of Office 365 Technical Product Management, says, explaining that this new feature has been designed to provide you with valuable information regarding your work.
Office Delve is powered by Office Graph, which Microsoft says uses machine learning technologies to track the way you work and bring you the information you need at the right time.
How does it work?
Microsoft says that all information will be provided in a “card-based design,” with Office Graph in charge of mapping relationships between people, content, and Office 365 activity.
It’s also connected to OneDrive for Business, SharePoint Online, and Yammer, while also analyzing data received through email. Better implementation with OneNote and Lync will also be available soon, White explained.
“Office Delve is a new way to discover relevant information and connections from across your work life. Delve displays information that is most relevant for each person based on the work they are doing and the people with whom they are engaging. With Delve, information finds you versus you having to find information,” White added.
“All of this is presented in a beautiful, card-based design that is easy to understand and use. It also presents intuitive ways to view content, so you no longer have to remember where stuff is stored or who shared it with you. And, of course, Delve only enables you to view content you have access and permission to view—we always respect permissions across all parts of Office 365.”
Office Delve availability
Unfortunately for Office 365 customers who wanted to see Delve available in all subscription plans, Microsoft is offering it only to Enterprise E1 – E4 subscription plans (including the corresponding A2 – A4 and G1 – G4 plans for Academic and Government customers respectively).
In January 2015, Office 365 Business Essentials and Business Premium plans, Office 365 Small Business, Small Business Premium and Midsize Business plans will get it as well.
Not everyone will get Office Delve from the very beginning and customers will get it in phases, the company said. The first to receive it are customers who have configured the service to provide Office 365 service updates at first release, while the rest of customers will get it at a later time.
By early 2015, all eligible customers should have Office Delve, the company promises, but those who want it sooner can always select to receive significant service updates upon first release from their accounts.
