Microsoft Expands Office Live Small Business

New features include an e-commerce tool for Web site and eBay sales.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) Office Live Small Business has announced new features and enhancements to its Web service to better help small businesses market themselves online. Among the new features are Store Manager, an e-commerce tool to help small businesses easily sell products on their own Web site and on eBay; and E-mail Marketing beta, to facilitate the sending of e-mail newsletters and promotions.

Small businesses that sign up will also receive Web hosting, rich site design capabilities, several productivity applications, contact management software for performing basic customer relationship management, and custom domain name registration with 100 business e-mail accounts, all for free.

"Today, having a professional Web site is as essential to running a small business as having business cards," Baris Cetinok, director of product management and marketing for Microsoft Office Live Small Business, said in a statement. "By making it simple and affordable to develop and maintain a Web site, and offering user-friendly sales and marketing features, Office Live Small Business provides a one-stop shop to help small businesses easily take, promote and manage their businesses online."