Microsoft launches Office 2003

New Delhi: Microsoft Corporation India has launched its latest offering for the "information worker audience" in the country, the Microsoft Office System.

It includes Office-branded programmes, servers, solutions and servers as an integrated stack of offerings, which will enable users to access, integrate and utilise information from disparate sources through the familiar Office front-end.

As part of the launch of the Office System, Microsoft introduced three new products — Microsoft InfoPath, Microsoft OneNote and Office Live Communication Server — in addition to Microsoft Office 2003 and new versions of several existing offerings.

Microsoft India managing director Rajiv Kaul says the Office System will be available to customers through its partners such as Hewlett Packard and HCL and global partners such as Cap Gemini, Ernst & Young, IntelSys, Proapt and Tata Consultancy Services.

Individual products, including Office 2003 and other standalone applications, will be made available through traditional channels such as retail and volume licensing programmes.

An important feature of the new office system is the information rights management capabilities that restrict unauthorised access and use of documents and e-mails. Improvements have also been made to the email client outlook, including changes to its interface and integrated instant messaging.

"The system is a collection of programmes, servers, services and solutions which woven together allows an organisation to leverage its information assets more effectively, by increasing productivity at an individual, team and organisation level. We expect traction to come from banking and financial services, IT services, IT-enabled services and manufacturing verticals," says Kaul. "The new office system has already been adopted and found useful by ICICI Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, TVS Industries and Ashok Leyland."