Microsoft still isn’t ready to talk publicly about Office 12, its next major release of its information-worker family of products. But the company is briefing selected partners and customers about the forthcoming family of Office desktop and server products.

According to partner sources who requested anonymity, Microsoft has established an internal Office 12 ship calendar that pegs Office Beta 1 availability for Aug. 29, 2005. Beta 2 is slated for Dec. 5, 2005. The internal release-to-manufacturing target is May 22, 2006.

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