Microsoft Works Suite 2006: Living the 'Suite' Life Is Easier Than Ever

Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of Microsoft Works Suite 2006, featuring a collection of Microsoft's home software titles in one easy-to-use, affordable package. With Microsoft Works 8, Word 2002, Encarta Encyclopedia Standard 2006, Digital Image Standard 2006, Money 2006 Standard, and Streets & Trips Essentials 2006, this comprehensive product is designed to help consumers accomplish more using their home PC.

Nearly half of all Americans say they turn to the PC to achieve personal goals, such as getting more organized, staying in touch with friends and family, and being more productive.(1) With Microsoft Works Suite 2006, families can easily organize hectic schedules, plan hassle-free road trips, pay household bills, enjoy digital photos, explore the world and more.

"Whether you're a multitasking mom or dad, your time is precious," said Kim Schaefer, product manager for Works Suite at Microsoft. "Microsoft Works Suite 2006 offers families the best tools to quickly accomplish the things they need to do so they can spend more time enjoying the things they want to do."

Microsoft Works Suite 2006 provides tools to accomplish everyday tasks and long-term goals with the following new and enhanced programs and features:

-- New Edition! Digital Image Standard 2006 makes digital photography fun and easy by offering the essential tools needed to organize, enhance and share digital photos:
- New features include Video Support, Hierarchical Keywords and Labels for organizing photos and video clips, Hover Thumbnail for easily browsing through photos, and a Sharing Disc for burning CDs to share with friends and family.
-- New Edition! Microsoft Money 2006 Standard helps consumers easily see where the money is going and keep track of their day-to-day finances:
- New to Money is the Multiple Bill Payment tool that provides the option to pay multiple bills from numerous accounts all at once directly from the Bill Calendar. The enhanced Spending Tracker enables consumers to set up their budget their way with common and customizable spending categories.
-- New Edition! Encarta Encyclopedia Standard 2006, the No. 1 best-selling encyclopedia brand, is a trusted multimedia resource with accurate, up-to-date content accessible both online and offline: - With a new look and feel, Encarta Encyclopedia Standard 2006 lets consumers find the content they are looking for. With a new sorting tool, users can now sort information by relevancy or group results by type, such as article or medium.
-- New Edition! Microsoft Streets & Trips Essentials 2006 provides easy-to-follow maps to more than 1.7 million points of interest in the U.S. and Canada, making it perfect for planning family vacations or just running errands around town:
- Consumers have access to numerous new and enhanced features, including updated data for both the U.S. and Canada, new Locate Me technology for lost travelers, and Night Map Style for easy reading when traveling at night.
-- Enhanced! Microsoft Works 8 offers essential productivity tools including word processing, spreadsheet, database, calendar, e-mail, Internet tools and more:
- Works 8 provides consumers with advanced and reliable technology that's more secure than ever before. Consumers can easily manage schedules and share personal appointments with iCalendar Format Support; use the View Together feature that combines or overlies any grouping of calendars, making it easy to manage multiple schedules displayed in different colors; and accomplish everyday tasks even more quickly with templates to get them started.
-- Microsoft Word 2002 allows consumers to create professional-quality documents and is an ideal word processing program for home, school or work.

Availability
Microsoft Works Suite 2006 is available in stores for $99.95 (U.S. estimated retail price), before a $20 (U.S.) ($40 CAN) mail-in rebate. More information about Microsoft Works Suite 2006 can be found at www.microsoft.com/works .

(1) Consumer Electronics Association, 2004

SOURCE Microsoft Corp.