Office 2010 preview program ready in July

Microsoft said on Monday that it will launch an invitation-only Technical Preview Program of the new Office in July and that those at this week's Microsoft TechEd conference in Los Angeles will be among the first to get to kick the tires on the new version of Microsoft's flagship software.

Whereas Office 2007 introduced new file formats and a major overhaul of the user interface, Office 2010 — or Office 14 — is a more modest change to the desktop programs. However, in conjunction with the release, Microsoft is also releasing browser-based versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, known as Office Web Applications. It will also be the first version of Office to come in a 64-bit version, as well as the traditional 32-bit variety.

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Microsoft had previously said that a test version would come sometime in the third quarter. Microsoft said it will scale the test version to users beyond those at TechEd, but did not give a time frame.

The final version of Office 2010 is due out next year.

To run the desktop versions of Office 2010, Microsoft said that users will need either Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista or Windows 7. Hardware that is capable of running Office 2007 should also support Office 2010, Microsoft said.

In addition to announcing the timing of the Office technical preview, Microsoft is also using the first day of the TechEd event to announce more details on the next versions of SQL Server and Windows Server and to confirm that it will release Windows 7 in time to be on PCs by the end of the year.