Software giant, Microsoft is position its new cloud-based office productivity suite, the Office 365 for small and medium-sized businesses.

Office 365 brings together its Office, collaboration and communications software. It offers productivity and collaboration tools as well as others needed by small and medium-sized businesses to compete with larger organizations, according to Steve Ballmer, Microsoft’s chief executive.

“Office 365 is where Microsoft Office meets the cloud,” said Mr Ballmer. “Our focus is on the small and medium-sized group of businesses today. That group is responsible for nearly two-thirds of global job growth – it employs about 1.5bn people around the world.”

He also said that office 365 will offer an edge to small and medium-sized businesses without the need for huge investments and complex IT systems. The suit will appeal specially to those firms that have little in-house IT expertise or resources.

Office 365 for small businesses which costs $6 a month per user and offers tools including Microsoft’s suite of Office Web Apps, Microsoft Exchange Online, Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Lync Online and also allow users to built websites more easily.