Microsoft Corporation unveiled multiple versions of its upcoming Office business software suite with features that aim to improve work efficiency.
The productivity suite is currently in beta and is scheduled for release by the end of this year. A second beta has been promised before June.
The new Microsoft Office 2007 Suite, previously code-named Microsoft Office 12, is the successor to its Office business application franchise, which packages together word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and other programs.
A premium edition, Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007, incorporates another work-sharing technology from Groove Networks Inc., the company Microsoft acquired last year.
Office Groove allows a group to synchronize in real time the progress made by its members, while also providing the flexibility to work offline before reconnecting with the rest of the group to update any new developments.
Microsoft will also offer a consumer version with Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007. There is also a basic offering that is preloaded onto some PCs, a version for small businesses and a standard suite of products.
The launch will also see the introduction of the first major release of the Groove Virtual Office collaboration suite since the application was acquired by Microsoft last April. Since the acquisition, the Groove's founder Ray Ozzie has been appointed chief technical officer and the architect of Microsoft's Live Software initiative.
Microsoft plans to make seven editions of the suite available. Consumers and small business will see few if any changes, but the software maker has created a new version catering for enterprises called Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007.
