Microsoft kills Office 365 “Project Osaka,” a table sharing app still in private preview

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by Radu Tyrsina 

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Not every Microsoft preview is a success. Just three weeks after the revelation that Project Osaka was actually CollabDB, Microsoft is closing the shutters.

In case you’re confused, CollabDB is a collaboration tool that lets teams create and share tables in real-time. The premise was similar to that of Google Sheets where the group could import files from Excel.

Unfortunately, ZDNet reports that the preview is shutting down. The select Office 365 previewers recently noticed a big red banner at the top of the tool announcing that Project Osaka would no longer be available after March 31, 2017.

“Beginning today, we’re winding down Project Osaka and it will be fully retired on March 31st, 2017. We understand that this transition won’t be an easy one and we’re working hard to make this process as easy as possible. Please see the instructions for migrating your data. We’ve enjoyed working with each of you and we have deep admiration for the things you’ve built. Thank you for using Project Osaka.” Image Credit: ZDNet

CollabDB has been in private testing for two years now so it has made a pretty good run. Perhaps Microsoft is turning their focus onto more pressing collaborative tools. The only official statement about it, however, is the small dismissive banner. Who knows, maybe we’ll see Project Osaka/CollabDB from Microsoft again someday.

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina Shield

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time). For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web. Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they're looking for.

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