Xbox One being pitched to small businesses
Microsoft says big-screen video conferencing with Skype, cloud storage, and web apps justifies $500 business expense
At Microsoft's E3 media briefing last month, the company pushed Xbox One as the ultimate gaming machine. But now that it's established the system's gaming chops, Microsoft is suggesting it could work as a small business tool as well. In a post on Microsoft's small business support blog, "Xbox MVP" and director of the company's consumer camp Marques Lyons says it's "entirely justifiable" to file a $500 Xbox One purchase as a business expense.
"[T]here are many features built into the console that could help it rival even the most modest of video conferencing and networking platforms," Lyons said.
Lyons pointed to the system's Skype functionality, which will let users create multiperson video chats on a bigger screen and with a wider camera view than they may have on their primary work computers. On top of that, he noted that the system will have an Internet Explorer app capable of accessing a SkyDrive cloud storage account, so any in-office PowerPoint presentations can be displayed on the big screen with gesture- or voice-controlled flair. A SmartGlass device could be used for more intricate operations like navigating websites during presentations. Finally, Lyons noted that future Xbox One apps could also introduce new functionality to the system.