Microsoft Gulf & Eastern Mediterranean (GEM) has unveiled Office XP which delivers breakthrough productivity and communication solutions for users of all types.

"Office XP is the first Office suite that delivers on-the-Net vision by integrating Internet-based services into Office, enabling users to be more productive," the company said.

Andy Abbar, group programme manager, Microsoft Corporation - Redmond, who heads Microsoft's 'complex scripts' development team and is responsible for the company's extensive Arabic software development programme, flew into Dubai to inaugurate Office XP in the Middle East. For the first time, the Arabic version of Microsoft Office XP was launched simultaneously with the English version.

"This latest version will empower individuals to experience and control the full functionality of the product, improve team communication and collaboration, and expand solution opportunities for organisations," said Abbar.

Since the launch of its individual trial programme by Microsoft Corporation, Office XP has received rave reviews worldwide.

"Microsoft is committed to providing its customers with excellent and compelling solutions, and we're pleased to offer best-in-class technology," said Mazen Shehadeh, product-marketing manager, Microsoft GEM.

Office XP will enable teams to work together more effectively by dramatically improving the way people collaborate on documents and by providing tight integration with an exciting new Web-based application for managing team projects, content and activities.

Key innovations in Office XP include: smart tags, speech functionality, task panes, data recovery innovations, document review and workflow process improvements, integration with sharepoint team services and Hotmail/MSN instant messenger integration

"Office XP will provide organisations with a rich platform for creating Web-based business solutions that improve accessing and reporting of critical business data, enable tight integration between Office and other applications, and with tools to build collaboration and workflow applications that help teams work together more effectively.

"Office XP also serves as an information hub that enables people to harness information from multiple locations," Microsoft said.