After many incorrect dates rumoured about the release of Office 2013 (codenamed Office 15) beta, it seems like it may finally be released on Monday.
It seems to have taken a while – earlier this year, a select group of people got access to a Technical Preview, but this was never made public. And the RTM/GA date seems to have been delayed – instead of being available in early 2013, it may instead be available in mid 2013. And for those of you who know that Windows RT will come with Office 2013 RT pre-installed, it’s bad news. Because Windows RT ships around October time, with RTM early next month. And Office 2013 RT won’t be ready then. So will it ship with a beta version? Office 2010? Nothing? And then will it get an update with Office 2013 RT when it’s available? Only Microsoft knows.
Onto the topic of naming – it most likely, following the Windows 8 names, won’t be called a ‘beta’, though it actually is. The Windows 8 beta is called the Consumer Preview, so what with Office 2013 beta be called? I’m guessing Consumer Preview, or simply Preview. And for the RT version? Probably Office 2013 RT.
Only Microsoft knows whether the Preview will be released on Monday. It probably will though – yesterday (?) Microsoft started an “Office Next” blog, so it’s likely it will be released soon. (The bad thing is I’m away the week on the release… annoying!!).
