Microsoft finally launches Windows Vista

After a two-year delay, Microsoft Corp. at last on Thursday released its flagship versions of Windows and Office for businesses. The software giant also released Exchange Server 2007 software, an update to the Exchange Server messaging system.

Microsoft's business launch of Windows Vista, Microsoft Office 2007 and updated Exchange is company’s most significant joint product launch in over a decade. The last time Microsoft launched new versions of Windows and Office simultaneously was in 1995.

"This is the biggest launch in our company's history," said Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer.

The recent launch marks the beginning of an array of products Microsoft plans to launch over the next year. In order to retain its dominant position in the Personal Computer market, Microsoft has prepared a catalogue of numerous products it will launch time to time. Microsoft plans to roll out more than 30 new products for business customers.

Announcing the release at a press conference, Ballmer said, “This is by far the largest wave of products we've ever kicked off, all anchored around the most significant releases that maybe we've ever done.”

“Certainly it's the biggest release since 1995, of our flagship products Windows and Office."

The novel versions of Windows and Office will initially be available for businesses and corporations that buy Windows licenses in bulk but will soon reach in consumer market. Hopefully, the new operating system will go on sale for home computer users on 30 January.

However, the news has disappointed the PC-makers who could have lured the customers during the year end holiday season which sees maximum sales.

Windows Vista, company's first new operating system in five years, is the newest version of the software that powers 90 per cent of the world's PCs and is used by about 800 million people a day.

The launch of Vista has been delayed for several times. Besides repeated delays Microsoft's confession that it over-complicated the product had offended the Vista.

However, now Microsoft claims it has made the updated version much easier and more convenient to perform popular tasks such as loading and playing digital music and displaying digital photographs.

Microsoft also claims that Vista will make PCs more secure, powerful and graphically dynamic especially when combined with other products Microsoft is releasing side by side. The most distinct features in Vista include three-dimensional graphics and much better search capabilities.

"We expect that more than 200 million people will be using at least one of these products by the end of 2007," Ballmer said. The company will spend hundreds of millions of dollars to market its new versions of Windows and Office, he said.

Ballmer on Thursday rang NASDAQ’s opening bell to start trading and celebrated the launch of Vista. Analysts expect the launch of Windows Vista and Office 2007 will boost Microsoft's revenue in 2007.