Home Microsoft Officially Announces Vista and Office 07 – Web Briefly Mentioned

Microsoft Officially Announces Vista and Office 07 – Web Briefly Mentioned

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced
today
the business availability of the Windows Vista operating system, the 2007
release of Microsoft Office, and other new business software offerings. Vista and Office
07 be available from 30 January. The OS and Office launches were described as “the
beginning of the most significant product launch in company history”. It was also noted
that it’s the first “simultaneous release” of Windows and Office since the joint launch
of the Windows 95 operating system and Office 95 more than a decade ago.

There wasn’t a lot for Web fans to sink their teeth into from Ballmer’s speech today – judging by the press release and Mary-Jo Foley’s report anyway. The closest Ballmer came to recognizing the huge importance
of the Internet was the theme of “People-Ready Business”, which was couched in the usual
Microsoft talk of enhancing productivity, unleashing potential, etc.

However there is one
Web-related paragraph in the press release:

“Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system also provide the core platform
that will enable businesses to take advantage of the benefits of Internet-based software
services. These products incorporate key XML and Web services technologies that will help
companies tap into online services and select the mix of on-premise and hosted
applications
to deliver the right balance of control, convenience,
cost-effectiveness, and security while helping increase productivity.”

(emphasis mine)

The part I emphasized sums up Microsoft’s approach to the Web in Vista and Office.
Because both products (OS and Office) are PC-based, Microsoft’s clear strategy is to
ensure there is a link from the desktop out to the Web. And vice versa – but make no
mistake, the desktop is their key platform still. Ray Ozzie’s
conversation
with John Battelle at the recent Web 2.0 Summit provides more details
about this. For example:

“Ray says the Web is good at universal access, sharing scenarios, etc – and the PC is
good at flexible and fast UI, is reliable. He says we’re going to a world where we’re
dropping media items into our documents, but the PC was designed for media editing.”

What’s perhaps of most interest to Web fans, is whether Microsoft’s live.com start
page will be used as a default homepage on Vista (via IE7). Or maybe Live Search is a better bet,
which will strike at the heart of Google’s challenge. If Live Search is the default
homepage (we already know it will be the default search engine), then that will improve
Microsoft’s search market share by default too.

As we
noted recently
, Vista will put pressure on Google’s product line – as Vista will have
IE7 as its default browser, and Live Search as default search and maybe the default homepage
(either that or live.com, or MSN if they’re being super conservative). 2007 is shaping up
to be a fascinating year in the battle of the Web giants.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.