Office 2016 saves files to OneDrive by default

Microsoft has chosen to save files in Office 2016 to OneDrive by default. In addition, users can edit files simultaneously with others in real time, as is already possible in Google Drive, for example.

In Office 2013, the option to save files to OneDrive is already present, but users must consciously choose to do so. In Office 2016, that is no longer the case, and OneDrive is used automatically, Microsoft announced during its own Ignite conference. In addition, email attachments are automatically saved in OneDrive.

The functionality is present in a new preview version of Office 2016, which is available for testing by the general public. A preview version of Office 2016 was already available, but that test version was aimed at developers and system administrators.

The storage in OneDrive has the advantage that users can edit documents at the same time as others, as Google Drive has been offering for some time. It is unclear whether this functionality is also offered in combination with, for example, Dropbox; Office already offers Dropbox integration. Microsoft does not explicitly mention the option to store files elsewhere than in OneDrive, but it is obvious that users can choose to do so.

In addition, Office 2016 will include the ability to collaborate in teams, so that they can, for example, share notes and documents with each other and communicate with each other via instant messaging. In addition, Microsoft introduced Skype for Business Server, the successor to the business VoIP software Lync, at the Ignite conference.