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Microsoft has promised three editions of Office 2008 including a core edition featuring Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Entourage along with Microsoft Server Exchange support and Automator tools.

There will also be a Mac Special Media Edition which will add Microsoft's Expression Media digital asset manager, and a basic Home and Student Edition, featuring the core applications and three user licenses without any of the extras.

All versions

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of Office 2008 for Mac employ the controversial Open XML (OOXML) file format and as Universal applications will run natively on PowerPC and Intel Macs. OOXML was introduced with Office 2007 and Mac users currently have to rely on beta translators in order to read files saved in the format.

"We built Office 2008 with the unifying goal of making it easier for Mac users to access the tools they need to get the job done - whether it's creating a brochure for their business, managing their family schedule and finances, or finalising a presentation to share between Macs and PCs," says Craig Eisler, general manager of Microsoft's Mac Business.

"And, of course, Office 2008 for Mac will provide the document fidelity with the 2007 Microsoft Office system that our users need to stay connected with their friends and co-workers on PCs."

The suite will require an Intel, G5, or G4 Mac rated at 500MHz or faster, with Mac OS X 10.4.9 or later.