Office 365

Hi,

Office 365 does run offline, it essentially downloads Office applications to your computer.

However, quoting Microsoft's official FAQ:

Is Internet access required for Office 365?

Internet access is required to install and activate all Office 365 plans and to manage your subscription account. Internet connectivity is also required to access Office 365 cloud productivity services, including email, conferencing, IT management, and other services.

Many Office 365 plans also include the desktop version of Office, for example, Office 365 Small Business Premium and Office 365 Enterprise E3. One of the benefits of having the desktop version of Office applications is that you can work offline and have the confidence that the next time you connect to the Internet all your work will automatically sync, so you never have to worry about your documents being up to date. Your desktop version of Office is also automatically kept up to date and upgraded when you connect to the Internet, so you always have the latest tools to help you work.

Moreover, quoting a (Microsoft representative):

Office Professional Plus for Office 365 includes new activation technology that enables a monthly subscription model. Every month, Office Professional Plus automatically verifies the status of a user’s subscription. The validation process requires Internet access.

As for MPLS connections, it can:

All connections to Office 365 are done over the Internet and are secured by SSL as appropriate. Microsoft does not provide the ability for direct peering with Microsoft datacenters by using Virtual Private Network (VPN) or Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS). Some customers may choose to directly peer with partner networks close to Microsoft datacenters. Such arrangements are supported by the partner, rather than by Microsoft.

More on connections to Microsoft datacenters regarding Office 365: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj945180.aspx

Cheers

For the MPLS connection, you right that it is possible.. but the snippet below says that Micosoft does not allow it, please explain how it is possible..

the sentence (verbatim) as it appears:
Microsoft does not provide the ability for direct peering with Microsoft datacenters by using Virtual Private Network (VPN) or Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS).

Hello,
I apologize for misleading you in any way. I meant for it to possible just as quoted after the sentence you mention, specifically:

Some customers may choose to directly peer with partner networks close to Microsoft datacenters.

I cannot offer you any more enlightenment on this issue, other experts may add some info in the meantime.

No worries.. acseven, you are so humble and polite.. I believe you were referring to ExpressRoute via partners.

Can you please explain one more thing .. I believe MS Azure is the cloud plaform that is for office 365.  I came across the following FAQ website and it says that ExpressRoute usage is dependent on regional basis. Can you please explain how is it going to work for an employee during travel? Will office suite stop working for employee who crosses the boundary?

http://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/expressroute/

Hi;
Anyone on the board who can shine some light on why the above boundary restrictions were put in...