Scott Becker of ENT News writes:

Microsoft is being tight-lipped about the feature set for the next version of Office.

Expect that to change shortly as Microsoft aims to keep Licensing 6.0 Software Assurance customers by enticing them with the bells and whistles of the next version. In the meantime, Microsoft’s moves in products and technologies adjacent to Office point to the future direction of the product.

Here are 12 things to expect in “Office 12.”

A 2006 delivery date
There’s not much detail beyond that yet. Some published reports have Microsoft trying to time the release of the Windows “Longhorn” client and “Office 12,” the code-name for the next version. Microsoft also says it will release the next version of Exchange, code-named “Exchange 12″ or “E12,” in 2006 and close to the release of Office 12.

[Office - What's Next?, continued]