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Report: Office 14 May Be Office 2009
Technology reporter Mary Jo Foley discovered a Microsoft FAQ that appears to indicate Microsoft's official name for the next version of Office.
Veteran technology reporter Mary Jo Foley today discovered a Microsoft frequently asked questions (FAQ) document that appears to indicate Microsoft will call the next version of Office, currently code named Office 14, Office 2009.
According to an entry posted today on ZDNet's All About Microsoft blog, Foley saw the possible naming convention -- which would also confirm its yet-to-be-announced shipping year, if true -- in a FAQ related to a SharePoint podcast.
In the FAQ -- "which I expect Microsoft to edit shortly after I post this," Foley wrote -- the next version of SharePoint is referred to twice as SharePoint 2009.
Foley points out that several previous leaks have indicated that the next version of Office is scheduled to debut in 2009, so the naming convention in the FAQ appears to back up the previous leaks.
"The latest date proof has me wondering whether Microsoft will attempt to launch Windows 7 and Office 14 in tandem in late 2009," Foley commented in her report. "I had been hearing that the two products might launch separately in the next go-around. But if both end up ready to ship in 2009, who knows?"
Microsoft has not responded to Foley's discovery.
About the Author
Becky Nagel is the vice president of Web & Digital Strategy for 1105's Converge360 Group, where she oversees the front-end Web team and deals with all aspects of digital projects at the company, including launching and running the group's popular virtual summit and Coffee talk series . She an experienced tech journalist (20 years), and before her current position, was the editorial director of the group's sites. A few years ago she gave a talk at a leading technical publishers conference about how changes in Web browser technology would impact online advertising for publishers. Follow her on twitter @beckynagel.