Microsoft will officially launch Microsoft Office 2010 to business users at an event scheduled for May 12 (May 13th in Australia).
Companies with volume license agreements can obtain the product on May 12, with Microsoft Office set to go on sale to the general public and businesses without volume licensing deals in June.
Microsoft also confirmed their Office 2010 Technology Guarantee program in the announcement that permits buyers of Office 2007 to upgrade to office 2010 for free. Customers purchasing an eligible copy of Office 2007 before September 30 will be allowed to download an upgrade to the corresponding edition of Office 2010 when it is available in June. With users who require a DVD installation disc upgrade for Office 2010 needing to pay a small shipping fee, with shipping fees to be announced in June.
Microsoft plans to sell single-license activation keys through its online store and retail partners to customers wanting to upgrade from older editions of Microsoft Office, or the Office Starter 2010 version that will come with some new PCs.
With the Office 2010 Technology Guarantee program, there is a limit of 25 free upgrades per person. Which is an attempt by Microsoft designed to steer businesses with multiple copies towards its volume licensing agreements. Microsoft has set up a site that spells out the Office 2010 Technology Guarantee in detail.
Microsoft will also launch updated versions of SharePoint 2010, Visio 2010 and Project 2010 on May 12.
For consumers, Office 2010 will be available online and on retail shelves this June. Until then, Office 2010 beta can be downloaded at www.office.com/beta
