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SEATTLE - Microsoft says it has completed the software code for its Office 2007 suite, and it will go on sale to business customers on November 30.
Microsoft will also make the new Windows Vista operating system and 2007 Exchange email server available to business customers on the same day.
It said all the software would become widely available to consumers early next year.
The announcement that Microsoft Office 2007 is ready for "release to manufacturing" indicates that it is relatively bug-free and suitable for wide distribution.
"We've crossed the development finish line," said Jeff Raikes, president of Microsoft's business division.
In June, Microsoft postponed the release of its upgrade to Office, which includes the Word word-processor, Excel spreadsheet and PowerPoint presentation software - the latest in a series of development delays that have plagued the company.
Windows Vista and Office 2007 are major upgrades to Microsoft's two most important products, and come at a time when investors have been questioning the software giant's ability to keep up with faster-growing competitors seeking to offer software over the internet instead of on the desktop.
Windows and Office account for more than half the company's revenue and nearly all of its profit.
Web-search leader Google has online versions of popular Office applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, email and a calendar.
- REUTERS
