Microsoft delays Office relaunch

Office 2007, like Windows Vista, will now arrive next year

Microsoft has put back the consumer launch of its new Office software suite to 2007, to coincide with the delayed start date for Windows Vista.

Microsoft said on Wednesday it had to delay the launch of the consumer version of its latest operating system.

It had originally aimed to launch Vista - the first major update since Windows XP was introduced five years ago - in the second half of 2006.

But a version will be available for corporate customers from November 2006.

On Friday, Microsoft confirmed that the mainstream launch of its new Office 2007 system would also be delayed to January.

This will enable Microsoft to market it in tandem with Vista.

Microsoft is planning six versions of the next incarnation of its Windows operating system, three of which will be targeted at home users.

'Enhanced leadership'

At the same time, Microsoft has reshuffled the management team at the division which oversees its flagship Windows operating system.

Changes include the head of security within Microsoft's Core Operating System Division moving to a new job.

We are enhancing the leadership team and structure across the division Kevin Johnson, Microsoft

Mike Nash will be succeeded as head of the Security Technology Unit by Ben Fathi.

Efforts to improve security in the new system were largely behind the delay to Vista, Microsoft has admitted.

Brian Valentine and Jim Allchin will be charged with delivering Vista later this year while Steven Sinofsky will become head of a new group responsible for planning future versions of Windows.

"We are enhancing the leadership team and structure across the division to ensure we have the right organization to support our technology vision," said Kevin Johnson, co-president of the software giant's Platform and Services Division.