Microsoft puts Groove into Office 2007

The next release of Microsoft's Office productivity suite will be called Office 2007 and will ship in seven editions, the firm has announced. These will include a new Office Enterprise 2007 version and several new Office Server platforms.

Office 2007, set for release by the end of this year, will simplify collaboration and streamline business processes and content management, according to Microsoft.

The new Enterprise edition features Groove 2007, which adds collaboration tools Microsoft gained when it acquired Groove Networks last year. It also includes Office Communicator, and has built-in support for enterprise content management, electronic forms, and information rights and policy capabilities.

Meanwhile, a Professional Plus edition replaces the Professional Enterprise version of Office 2003. This version does not include Groove 2007 or OneNote 2007, however.

Other new products include Forms Server 2007, Groove Server 2007 and Project Portfolio Server 2007.

Michael Azoff of analyst Butler Group said that Office 2007 is shaping up to be more than just a collection of applications. "This is an ambitious product set designed to weave the Microsoft platform into the heart of the web-enabled enterprise," he said.

The Professional edition of Office 2007 will be priced at $499 (£288). Microsoft did not disclose pricing for the Enterprise or Professional Plus editions, and these versions will only be available to buyers under volume licences.