Microsoft Revs Up For SP1 For Office 2003
The current schedule calls for a release candidate by April and final, or Release To Web, code by late May. This release is critical because many corporate accounts hold off on software upgrades until the first service pack is available.
MS OFFICE CLEANING
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Service Pack 1 factoids
>> New InfoPath, OneNote features
>> Security updates
>> Rolls up all previously released patches>> Release candidate in April; Release To Web late May
The plan now is for SP 1 to include not only the patches that typically follow a product's retail release but also fairly major new features for InfoPath and OneNote, the sources said. InfoPath enables a user's desktop applications to tap into back-end data via XML links. OneNote is a note-taking application that eliminates the need for keyboard entry. SP 1 also will include fixes and security updates as part of Microsoft's continued security push, code-named Springboard, the sources said.
Some say the rush to finalize code appears to run counter to the company's efforts to build in quality up front and not ship products until they are solid.
Microsoft, Redmond, Wash., is officially mum on the plan, since the service pack is still in early development.
"Anything we say about it would only be speculation right now, as a lot can change," said Dan Leach, lead product manager of Microsoft's Information Worker Product Management Group.