This marks the most significant product launch in the company's history and the first simultaneous release of Microsoft's flagship products since the joint launch of Windows 95 and Office 95 more than a decade ago. Windows Vista and the 2007 Office system will be released to businesses on 1st December. Exchange Server 2007 will be released on 8th December 2006, with Windows Vista and the 2007 Office system available for general consumer release on the 30th January 2007.

Designed to enable businesses to thrive in a world of instant communication, expanding information and constant change, the new products provide a platform that will transform the way people turn information into opportunity and growth.

Gordon Frazer, Microsoft UK's managing director comments: "These launches are truly significant not only for us as a company and the IT industry as a whole, but far more importantly for the thousands of UK businesses and millions of people who'll be using the products. This launch represents over $20 billion dollars of research and development."

"It has also involved Microsoft approaching the development of its software in new and business-relevant ways. No longer focused on features for features sake, we've taken a business and people-first approach. This, supported by the biggest beta-testing programme in our history, has resulted in a set of products focused on really enhancing people's interactions with their computers and a new experience that will tangibly benefit businesses."

Current business users of the Microsoft products include Arsenal FC, Qinetiq, HP, Intel, Newham Borough Council and Capgemini.

Adrian Ford, commercial director, Arsenal FC said: "The new Emirates stadium has enabled us to really change the way our staff work and become more collaborative across different departments. The combination of Exchange 2007, Office 2007 and Vista has helped this enormously by improving the mechanisms for sharing information and providing frameworks for users to collaborate on planning and coordination around specific events. Even simple things like having a single shared calendar of upcoming activity has been hugely beneficial."

Today's increasingly global, information-based economy is creating a host of new challenges. There is an increasing need for communication and collaboration across organizational boundaries, time zones and geographies. Similarly there is a demand for greater transparency throughout corporate operations. The new products address these issues head on.

Windows Vista

* Enables the mobile workforce to stay better connected and be more effective

* Finds, organizes and uses information more effectively

* Optimizes Desktop infrastructure

* Improves security and protects corporate data

Microsoft Office 2007

* The User Interface (UI) focuses on what is needed rather than how to do it

* Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds that can be managed like e-mail

* Connects Outlook 2007 users to mobile phones through Short Message Service (SMS)

* SmartArt Graphics (previously called IGX Graphics) helps users create highly professional looking documents and presentations

* Data visualization tools in Office Excel 2007 formats and identifies trends through use of color gradients, data bars and icons

* Uses Word interface to create blogs instead of HTML with new Blog This! software

Microsoft Exchange Server 2007

* Enhanced built in protection, improves confidential communications, reduces spam and viruses

* Enables employee to access e-mail, voice mail and calendars from many devices, thus increases productivity

* Enhances operational efficiency through features to help make administrators more productive.

Facts of general office trends of the past 30 years (information taken from survey undertaken by YouGov for Microsoft)

Offices in the 1970s
5% identified open plan offices as key characteristic of workplace
6% identified longer working hours
24% identified "lots of paper" being a constant characteristic

Offices in the 1980s 13% identified open plan offices as key characteristics of workplace
12% identified longer working hours
28% identified "lots of paper"

Offices in the 1990s
33% identified open plan offices as key characteristic of workplace
22% identified longer working hours
33% identified "lots of paper"

Offices in the 2000s
53% identified open plan offices as most significant characteristic of workplace
37% identified long working hours as most significant characteristic of workplace
27% identified "lots of paper"

Some other interesting facts for current day office environments & technology :

29% Londoners consider mobile phone the most important piece technology

7% of Scottish interviewees consider the mobile phone the most important piece technology

65% Scottish interviewees agreed that computers have taken over telephones for communicating within the office environment

13% of workers in the Midlands don't leave their desks for lunch -- taking the most working lunches across the country

10% of Northerners don't leave their desks for lunch breaks

About the research

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1,075 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 2nd - 8th November 2006. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

Source: Microsoft; World Television
LONDON, Nov. 29, 2006 /PRNewswire/ --

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