Office 2007 Beta has enjoyed a similar level of popularity with Windows Vista when it comes to customer demand. And as both analysts and Microsoft representatives expect the two applications to perform identically well with the release of their final versions, downloads for the beta variants of the products have sky-rocketed. As was the case with Vista, Microsoft is forced to implement download restrictions in order to manage the high demand.

In this context, after just a few days since the Redmond Company has introduced a download charge of $1.5 in order to discourage additional downloads, Microsoft has announced that it will cease to offer the Office 2007 Suite to its Australian customers. "Australians have been able to participate in the Office 2007 Beta 2 program for the past three months and during this time, Microsoft Australia has experienced an overwhelming response -- to the point where the program in Australia is now full," stated Robin Young, product solutions manager for the Information Worker Business Group at Microsoft Australia. The service will be disabled come August 1, 2006.

While the application will still be available to the rest of the world, Australian users will be notified that participation in the Office 2007 second beta phase is no longer available to them the moment they select Australia in the suite's download page.