Seattle, Aug 14: Microsoft Corp., the world's largest software maker, said on Wednesday it completed work on the new version of its software for managing large and complicated corporate projects, which will launch along with a new version of its Office suite later this year. Office Project 2003, which is now part of Microsoft's Office family of software for document, spreadsheet, presentation and other work-related tasks, will be released to manufacturing on Aug. 18, which means that computer hardware and service providers can start loading it into systems ready to ship and Microsoft can start making boxed CD-ROM copies.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Microsoft said "the Microsoft Office System is scheduled for availability later this fall."

Microsoft, which had maintained that it would launch the newest version of Office this summer, has not yet provided a specific launch date.
Microsoft rebranded its expanding Office software products as a "system" -- or a bundle of related programs bigger than a suite. The company did not specify whether the fall launch referred to the entire system or to the core Office productivity suite.
Project, which allows users to set up deadlines, share information and documents, coordinate schedules and track the progress of a project, can be run on a server for multiple participants. That version will retail for $1,499. Bureau Report