Microsoft to update Office 2007 beta

Microsoft plans to ship a new preview release of Office 2007 next week, a company representative said Wednesday. Formerly known by its Office 12 codename, Office 2007 is the next version of Microsoft's ubiquitous productivity software, due by year's end. The new preview is a "technical refresh" of the first beta release of the software, the representative said.

The updated beta changes to the user interface, bug fixes and other changes to make it more stable. Microsoft had said before that it planned significant changes to the way users find commands in Office, which can now be buried deep in menus. The beta refresh will be available only to the about 10,000 participants in a private testing program. Microsoft released the initial beta of Office 2007 in November. A second, public beta is planned for this spring.

[Knightcrawler]

only 10,000 ?

Thank God it's not on Bit Torrent or any other P2P :) :) :)

[Captain_Spock]

Are These EU - Microsoft Spats...

... some kinds of jokes or publicity stunts!

Re: "EU May Hit Microsoft With New Antitrust Inquiry"

In part; "claims was that Microsoft didn't allow other vendors to create Office-like products that interoperated with the Redmond, Wash.-based developer's Windows operating system.

Tuesday, EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes told reporters in Tokyo "We have a duty and responsibility, if there is a complainer, to take it seriously. If the complaint makes sense, we will [investigate]."

Microsoft already faces a 2 million euro ($2.4 million) per day fine for what the EU charges is non-compliance with its 2004 antitrust ruling. Most recently, Microsoft counter-charged that the EU was in cahoots with its competitors, and wasn't getting a fair shake. A hearing is planned for later this month where Microsoft will present its rebuttal to the out-of-compliance allegations.

Microsoft Office, which has a virtual lock on the business application market, is one of the company's cash cows. In its most recent earnings statement, Microsoft noted that the Information Worker group, whose main product is Office, accounted for $2.1 billion in profits in the quarter, about 45 percent of all profits. (Windows accounted for nearly all the rest.)"

http://www.crn.com/nl/crndailynews/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=181502035

Oh! how I just can't wait to enjoy that "SERVICE" REFRESH BREW of "L_O_T_U_S ~ K_O_N_A" on OS/2 Warp Server for e-Business! ;-)