Office alternative from Germany by Ionos and Nextcloud is now available

This week, “Ionos Nextcloud Workspace” was launched. The two companies describe the platform as a “European alternative to offerings like Microsoft 365” that emphasizes users' digital sovereignty, as the data remains in Germany. This is intended to “meet the highest demands for data protection and security.” However, this office and collaboration platform, based on open source, also includes an AI assistant.

Just about five months ago, Ionos and Nextcloud announced the development of an M365 alternative announced the development of an M365 alternative, which they presented as a sovereign online workplace with email, office, video conferencing, chat, and AI, based on open-source technology and with full user transparency and control over data and infrastructure. The two companies are emphasizing this again now, with the platform being operated on Ionos's cloud infrastructure in German data centers.

Ionos Nextcloud Workspace as a Sovereign Workplace

Technically, the office part of Ionos Nextcloud Workspace is based on the already widespread Collabora, as Ionos confirmed upon inquiry. However, enterprise features are added, making the package suitable for business use. This includes the management of many users. Furthermore, its use by authorities is also considered, as the use of online platforms that share data with US clouds is controversial, especially with sensitive data.

However, those who have become accustomed to Microsoft's Copilot at work do not have to forgo artificial intelligence (AI) in Ionos Nextcloud Workspace either. This platform also offers an AI assistant designed to simplify daily work. This includes automating recurring tasks, translations, image generation, and a chat function. All of this is performed according to the Ionos announcement, “DSGVO-compliant, transparent, and independent of US hyperscalers.”

Prices lower than Microsoft 365

Ionos had previously announced that the prices would be competitive with Microsoft and has now confirmed this. At launch, Ionos Nextcloud Workspace is available in a package for 25 users for 3 euros per user per month for the first three months. After that, it costs 7.60 euros per month. For Microsoft, the business plan for M365 for 25 users is free for the first month, but then costs at least 8.70 euros per month per user if Teams is omitted. With Teams, it costs 3 euros more per month.

In addition, Ionos announced further modules and services that will be added to the cloud platform in the coming months. These will include AI functions for editing and analyzing documents, a cloud-based virus scanner from G-Data, and a graphical user interface for the Ionos cloud.

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