SHARE
Facebook X Pinterest WhatsApp

Office Delayed: Can Microsoft Make the Trains Run on Time?

Windows hasn’t cornered the market on Microsoft date slips. While the Windows Vista launch delay made big headlines this week, the Office 2007 one did not. On March 23—in the midst of the hubbub over Microsoft’s reorganization of its Platforms & Systems division—Microsoft officials acknowledged that Office 2007 is now going to launch in 2007, […]

Mar 23, 2006
Channel Insider content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More

Windows hasn’t cornered the market on Microsoft date slips.

While the Windows Vista launch delay made big headlines this week, the Office 2007 one did not. On March 23—in the midst of the hubbub over Microsoft’s reorganization of its Platforms & Systems division—Microsoft officials acknowledged that Office 2007 is now going to launch in 2007, not 2006.

“It is true that Microsoft has decided to coordinate with Windows Vista to hit retail store shelves in January 2007, but that’s a reflection of the desire to provide an easy purchasing process for consumers and a simplified selling opportunity for retailers,” said a company spokeswoman. “There is no slip in schedule, just a change in delivery for the benefit of consumers and retailers.”

She added that, just as is the case with Windows Vista, Microsoft will still release the Office 2007 code to manufacturing before the end of calendar 2006. But only volume licensees will be able to take delivery of the code in 2006. All other Office customers will have to wait until January 2007 to obtain Office 2007 through new PC preloads and the retail channels.

Microsoft announced Thursday that Steven Sinofsky, the head of Microsoft Office development, will be moving over to the Windows team to spearhead engineering of future versions of Windows beyond Vista. Company watchers said they believed Sinofsky’s appointment was linked to his reputation as an individual who can ship code on time and with much predictability.

While the Office trains typically have run in a more timely manner than the Windows ones, Office is not immune from slips.

Read the full story on Microsoft Watch: Can Microsoft Make the Trains Run on Time?

Recommended for you...

June Roundup: M&A Moves Across the Shifting Channel Landscape
Jordan Smith
Jul 7, 2025
Leadership Roundup: New CEOs Highlight June Moves
Jordan Smith
Jul 2, 2025
Workspan AI Looks to Solve Channel Ecosystem Complexity
Victoria Durgin
Jun 25, 2025
May Roundup: Mergers and Acquisitions From Around the Channel
Jordan Smith
Jun 2, 2025
Channel Insider Logo

Channel Insider combines news and technology recommendations to keep channel partners, value-added resellers, IT solution providers, MSPs, and SaaS providers informed on the changing IT landscape. These resources provide product comparisons, in-depth analysis of vendors, and interviews with subject matter experts to provide vendors with critical information for their operations.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.