Microsoft is releasing an update for the Macintosh version of its Office suite to give users of Mac OS X direct access to the Microsoft Exchange Server for the first time.

The company said that Exchange access was one of the most popular requests it has received since launching the Office v.X suite in November of 2001.

But users may still have some time to wait as Microsoft has yet to announce a release date. A beta is due to start running in the spring, with a possible release of the update this summer.

The update will be for Entourage X, Microsoft's email and personal information manager designed specifically for Mac OS X. The program combines email, calendar, address book and tasks into one package.

Nigel Postings, service solutions manager at Microsoft, said the first release of the Exchange update would focus on shared calendaring capabilities, which allows users to view other Exchange users' free and busy times when trying to schedule meetings or events.

The update will also include a directory service lookup feature, allowing for searches of global address lists; the ability for the Entourage X calendar and address book to sync with the Exchange server for offline use; and improved text rendering when receiving mail from Outlook for Windows users.

To get functions to customers quickly, the product update is a focused, first version release delivering the core features that have been most highly demanded, Microsoft said.

The update will be made available as a free download to existing Entourage X customers, and added into the Open and Select kits. Outlook 2001 for Mac will continue to be the Exchange offering for users of Mac OS 9.