Microsoft Revs Its Office 2003 Marketing Engines

Delayed by the Blaster worm and the blackout, Microsoft takes the wraps off its Office 2003 pricing, licensing and launch plans.

Blaster has taken a toll on more than just the Windows, Product Support Services and Exchange teams. It seems to have thrown Microsoft Corp.s Office team into a tizzy as well.

Last week, Microsoft was set to begin putting the Office System 2003 marketing wheels in motion, according to sources close to the software giant.

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On Monday,August 11 (the very day Blaster blasted into orbit), Microsoft was slated to unveil its Office 2003 pricing and licensing information. The marketing team planned to continue to beat the Office 2003 drum later in the week, by announcing Offices release-to-manufacturing on Friday the 15th.

But the Blaster worm, compounded by the Blackout of 2003, seems to have changed the best-laid plans of Microsofts marketers.

Instead, Microsoft on Tuesday announced its Office 2003 licensing, pricing and rollout plans.

Microsoft officials said the company put the finishing touches on all of its core Office System 2003 products. These include the Office 2003 desktop-application suite (of which there are six flavors); Visio; FrontPage Publisher; SharePoint Portal Server; and Live Communications Server (Microsofts enterprise instant-messaging server).

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