Office delay could hurt Software Assurance users

Businesses may miss out, experts warn

A delay in the release of Microsoft Office 2007 could pose problems for businesses wanting to upgrade under the software giant's Software Assurance licensing scheme.

Microsoft sent an email missive last week blaming a revision of the technology that cropped up following trials.

‘Based on internal testing and the Beta 2 feedback around product performance, we are revising our development schedule to deliver the 2007 system release by the end of the year 2006, with broad general availability in early 2007,’ said Microsoft.

The company has said in the past that Office 2007 will be available for all customers by January, but now says feedback on quality and performance will determine exact dates for the future launch.

David Bradshaw, principal analyst at Ovum, said: ‘If business's Software Assurance is close to expiring, the delay could mean they won’t get Office 2007.’

The Microsoft web site states: ‘All Software Assurance benefits terminate with expiration of Software Assurance coverage.’

But Bradshaw says Microsoft may be open to negotiations as to whether or not users get the upgrade to Office 2007.

‘If an organisation’s subscription is ending, it could be a lever to get them to sign up again,’ he said.

Microsoft says more than 2.5m people have downloaded Beta 2 which is ‘proving to be the most poplar beta version of Office to date.’

‘In just one month, we have had three times as many participants as the 2003 Beta 2 release,’ it said.

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