MacRumors.com

Microsoft today announced that it has begun shipping Office 2008 for Mac Business Edition, replacing the previous Standard Edition and Special Media Edition with a single package offering the complete Office suite with support for Microsoft Exchange included.

The new Office 2008 for Mac Business Edition is a lot like it sounds... a suite that's packed with tools and features needed to grow and manage a business. It has all the familiar Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Entourage, all updated with Service Pack 2) while including new tools to provide a more complete productivity package for the enterprise:

- Entourage 2008, Web Services Edition - Provides faster data synchronization so Entourage users on Exchange 2007 will experience improved email and calendaring support. Additionally, we've added the ability to sync Tasks, Notes and Categories - one of the top customer requests - making Entourage 2008, Web Services Edition the best client for Exchange on the Mac.

- Document Connection for Mac - Improves access and browsing to documents on SharePoint Products and Technologies and Microsoft Office Live Workspace for streamlined collaboration

- Extras - More than 200 business-related templates and clip art, along with lynda.com training

Office 2008 for Mac Business Edition carries a recommended retail price of $399.95 for the full version and $239.95 for an upgrade version. The existing Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Home and Student Edition, which offers the basic Office components but lacks a number of advanced features, continues to be offered at a suggested retail price of $149.95.

Microsoft announced the introduction of Office 2008 for Mac Business Edition last month alongside details of Outlook for Mac's inclusion in the next major version of Office scheduled for launch in late 2010.