Update Availability - Office 2007 Service Pack 1

Microsoft accompanied the business and consumer launches of the Windows Vista operating system in November 2006 and January 2007, with the release of the Office 2007 System. Then, in mid 2007, the first pre-beta testing versions of Office 2007 SP1 came on the heels of the initial builds of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows XP Service Pack 3. At that time, Microsoft was estimating that the first service pack for Office 2007 would be delivered in the first quarter of 2008, along Vista SP1. As the service pack evolved rapidly through development milestones, the Redmond company managed to offer the refresh for download ahead of 2008. At this time, Office 2007 is available as a standalone install, as well as via Microsoft Update and Windows Server Update Services.

"As planned, Office 2007 SP1 was not pushed via Automatic Updates. There has been some confusion where Windows Vista customers are seeing Office 2007 SP1 listed as available with an option to install in their Windows Update control panel applet", revealed Bobbie Harder, WSUS Program Manager. "The new Vista experience of the Windows Update applet combines the convenience of the Microsoft Update site, by listing all applicable available updates, and the best of the Automatic Updates behavior. This allows users to specify what update types they want to automatically download and install (and when), as well as combines the interactive experience of the Microsoft Update site."

Harder emphasized the fact that despite the availability of Office 2007 SP1 for download, an installation in the Windows Update Control Panel Applet on Windows Vista, the service pack will not be served automatically to users of the operating system, despite having enabled the automatic update settings. In order for Office 2007 SP1 to be delivered as an update, the end user has to explicitly agree to the action. In the absence of user interaction the service pack will not be delivered.

"Microsoft is committed to giving our customers thirty days notice before we release Office 2007 SP1 to AU. This policy was designed with Office customers in mind and their desire to be aware for planning purposes when key service packs become available. For customers who want the benefits of Office 2007 SP1 now, we have made it available from the site with the added Vista feature of ensuring that awareness and ability to take action is readily available for our customers when they decide to download and install it", Harder added.

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