Microsoft has put back the consumer launch of its new Office software suite to 2007, to coincide with the delayed start date for Windows Vista.

Microsoft said it had to delay the launch of the consumer version of its latest operating system. Microsoft plans to delay the consumer launch of its much-anticipated Windows Vista operating system to January 2007.

It had originally aimed to launch Vista - the first major update since Windows XP was introduced five years ago - in the second half of 2006. Now, a version will be available for corporate customers from November 2006. Microsoft has also confirmed that the mainstream launch of its new Office 2007 system would also be delayed to January. This will enable Microsoft to market it in tandem with Vista.

Vista chief Jim Allchin said that the delay resulted from both quality issues, as well as requests from some of its partners. ‘We’re trying to do the responsible thing here,’ Allchin told reporters in a teleconference.

Microsoft is planning six versions of the next incarnation of its Windows operating system, three of which will be targeted at home users. At the same time, Microsoft has reshuffled the management team at the division which oversees its flagship Windows operating system.

Microsoft’s move could lead to a slowdown in the PC industry’s growth next year because consumers could hold off buying new machines to wait for Vista’s release. Computer manufacturers typically need at least six to eight weeks more to get Windows on new PCs, so a Microsoft change in a delivery date could have a domino effect in the retail chain.

Vista has already been delayed twice. The company was initially supposed to release it in 2005 and then pushed it to October 2006. Now it has set January 2007 as its latest target.

[Best OS Pricing UK]
[Best OS Pricing US]

Got this product? Got a camcorder/mic? Let us post YOUR video/podcast review!

BIOS, Mar 27, 06 | Print | Send | Comments (0) | Posted In Operating System