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New features for the all-dominant productivity suite include improved spam control in Outlook (junking messages on the basis of country codes), support for InfoPath developers (those using managed code, digital signatures and form sharing via e-mail) and end users (additional handwriting support for Tablet PCs), and improved OneNote integration with other Office 2003 components (for example, to import meeting details from Outlook 2003, create contacts and appointments, and to copy notes directly from a Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC or Smartphone).

Note that the OneNote

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changes have already been previewed in an update from April 2003 - Microsoft takes note of OneNote changes

Microsoft states that the same error reporting tools and feedback mechanisms that helped with the beta programme have been used to prioritise features and fixes for the service pack update.

'Thanks to our customer feedback and connection tools, we've made huge strides with the Microsoft Office System in continuing to improve product reliability through each successive release,' said Steven Sinofsky, senior VP of Office at Microsoft. 'At the launch in October, customers were already experiencing an increase in the average time between product errors by seven times over the first beta release. But we didn't stop there; with SP1, we've improved product reliability even further by taking action on the top issues affecting product performance.'

Registered users can find the SP1, along with further info, on the Microsoft website.

Office 2003 was released back in October 2003.