Users of Microsoft Office System products released in
October can expect the first service pack for the software in late
June.
Service Pack 1 (SP1) will apply to InfoPath 2003, OneNote 2003,
Project 2003, Publisher 2003, Visio 2003 and SharePoint Portal
Server and Windows SharePoint Services, as well as the Microsoft
Office 2003 suite, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and
Outlook.
Microsoft typically delivers a first service pack six to nine
months after it brings a product to market. Service packs typically
roll together all product updates and bug fixes issued so far.
Occasionally, Microsoft will use a service pack to add
functionality. Microsoft would not discuss technical details of the
service pack, saying it is too early.
Since its release in October, Office 2003's retail sales and the
number of volume buyers who bought the rights to install the
software is approximately double the number reached by Office XP in
the first months after its release, Microsoft claimed.
Office 2003 went through what Microsoft called its largest beta
test so far, including a "refresh" of the second beta to squash
more bugs. The refresh pushed back the Office 2003 release, but
Microsoft said it would add to the product's stability, making the
first release comparable to a product with the first service pack
installed.
Joris Evers writes for IDG News Service
