Microsoft hints at enterprise Windows

Microsoft's Steve Ballmer outlines plans for high-end versions of Windows and Office

Microsoft plans to release high-end versions of Windows and Office that specifically target large enterprises, chief executive Steve Ballmer said at a meeting with financial analysts in Seattle.

"We have plans in the Windows Vista generation to introduce an enterprise edition," Ballmer told delegates. "We have plans in the next generation for something even higher-end in Office that we call Office Premium."

The new editions will offer additional functionalities and will sell at a premium. Microsoft already offers several premium versions of its operating system such as Windows Professional and Windows Media Center edition.

Ballmer explained that the new suites should help the software giant to increase its revenues, noting that Windows Professional "drove literally billions of dollars of revenue growth versus the Home version".

Windows Vista and the new Office 12 are scheduled for release next year.

Microsoft is also considering launching new 'server' products that offer bundles of existing Microsoft titles. The company took a similar approach when it introduced Small Business Server, which bundles Windows Server 2003, Exchange, SQL and other titles.

Ballmer pointed to a possible new product called Office Server, as well as premium packages around management, security and email.

A Microsoft spokeswoman declined to provide any further details about the new software editions and bundles.

"We are currently evaluating a variety of ways to meet the operating system needs of our enterprise customers. We are not ready to disclose the details yet, " she said.