Latest beta of Office out today

 

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By Iain Thomson

Posted on 14 Sep 2006 at 12:54

Microsoft is releasing the latest version of Office 2007, scheduled for mass market launch early next year.

The new version of the code has been altered based on feedback from earlier betas and is free to all existing beta 2 users. The company says it has improved performance, built in better product integration, improved collaboration tools and added general 'fit and finish' changes.

"This Technical Refresh is the final external product milestone leading to the Office 2007 release to market," said a company spokeswoman.

"Based on the overwhelming feedback received, the development team has been working on many improvements to the 2007 Microsoft Office system Beta 2 that they want customers to have a chance to test, which is exactly what the beta program is all about."

The company says 3.5 million computer users have been using the existing beta product and all will have received an email telling them about the new beta.

Final code will be released to key industry partners towards the end of this year.