Office System 2003 Gets Surprise Refresh

Initially on schedule to follow Office 2003 Beta 2 with a release candidate, Microsoft disclosed that it will instead issue a refresh of the entire Office System second beta containing numerous improvements.


It is not clear what effect the surprise update will have on the final release timetable, but Redmond still expects a release to manufacturing this summer.


"We consider the Beta 2 release of the Microsoft Office System a success, and based on the feedback we are making a number of improvements to the Beta 2 versions of the Office System products," a Microsoft spokesperson told BetaNews.


"In order to make sure customers have the chance to look at the changes we've made in response to their feedback, later this spring, Microsoft is going to refresh the Beta 2 code for the Microsoft Office System."


Microsoft has not yet announced how it plans to distribute beta refresh code to the over 600,000 Office 2003 Beta 2 users. "We anticipate that this will be done through a downloadable patch," the spokesperson said.


Redmond refused to speculate on whether the unexpected beta release would delay the final version of Office System 2003, originally set for mid-summer.


"While we always have internal targets for RTM, we don't lock on them until we've completed the beta feedback process," company officials told BetaNews. "However, we still expect to RTM this summer."


Despite the change in plans, Microsoft is confident the launch of Office System will prove worth the wait. "The volume and quality of that feedback suggests great anticipation and excitement for Microsoft Office System products," the company said.

David Worthington contributed to this report.

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