Microsoft says Office 2007 ready to ship

updated 10:23 a.m. ET Nov. 6, 2006

SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp. said Monday it has completed the software code for its Office 2007 suite and will begin to offer the world's most popular package of desktop software to corporate customers on Nov. 30.

Microsoft will also make the new Windows Vista operating system and 2007 Exchange e-mail server available to business customers on the same day, and said all the products will become widely available to consumers in early 2007.

"We've crossed the development finish line," said Jeff Raikes, president of Microsoft's business division, in a statement.

In June, Microsoft pushed back the release of its upgrade to Office, which includes the Word processor, Excel spreadsheet and PowerPoint presentation software, marking the latest in a series of development delays that have plagued the company.

Windows Vista and Office 2007 represent major upgrades to Microsoft's two most important products at a time when investors question the software giant's ability to keep up with nimble, faster-growing competitors seeking to offer software over the Internet instead of on the desktop.

Windows and Office together account for more than half of the company's total revenue and nearly all of its profit.

Web search leader Google Inc. already offers online versions of popular Office applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail and calendar.

MORE FROM TECH AND GADGETS

Tech and gadgets Section Front

The death of weddings, as seen on YouTube Picking a photo printer that's right for you   Amazon Kindle for iPhone goes international After criticism, Facebook tweaks settings again The decade in personal technology Hollywood hopes ensemble cast boosts Blu-ray High-tech divorce clouds tablet PC's launch Facebook is lactose-intolerant, group says Fla. judges, lawyers can't be Facebook friends Cameras that have the best battery ‘juice’ Tech and gadgets Section Front   Add Tech and gadgets headlines to your news reader: