Microsoft releases first Office 2010 service pack

Microsoft launches service pack just one year after original launch

Microsoft has released the first service pack for its Office 2010 productivity suite and SharePoint server products.

The SP1 release comprises a series of software updates to be offered as manual downloads from the Microsoft's Download Centre and from Microsoft's Update site.

The company plans to make the service pack available as an automatic update 90 days after release.

The upgrades include improved back-up and restore functionality for SharePoint Server and Internet Explorer 9, as well as native support for Office Web Applications and SharePoint.

The Office 2010 SP1 arrives just a year after the original code was shipped to retailers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Microsoft's average service pack release cycle is usually around 18 months to two years after the original product launch.

The company had offered a private beta build of the code to a select group of testers in November 2010.

Microsoft also released the final version of its cloud-based Office productivity application service Office 365 yesterday.