Microsoft Office VP Steven Sinofsky tells CNET News.com that an Office 12 beta will arrive in November. But don’t expect to get your hands on it unless you’re an invited tester. And do be ready for some of the inevitable glitches, bugs, and instability that go along with beta releases:
When we come out with our beta, it will be our Beta 1. That’s the first of the betas, so it will be in the kind of shape that people normally expect Beta 1 to be in.
By contrast, 2006 should be an interesting year for anyone who wants to experiment with new software. The Beta 2 releases of Windows Vista and Office 12 should be available to anyone who wants to experiment with them, invited or not.
Ed Bott 
When in 2006 will the betas be generally available?
Assuming Google/Sun announce some kind of Office or Outlook product, will it have any effect on Microsoft’s release schedule? Taking their sweet ol’ time sure doesn’t seem smart…
I suspect we’ll see the wide availability of Windows Vista Beta 2 in January. Office 12 Beta 2? Maybe April, but that’s a total WAG.
You will definitely not see the Office team try to accelerate their schedule because of whatever Google does or doesn’t do today. There’s a pretty strict process in place for building this software, and it drives the schedule, not random competitive events.
Ed, I think the following on the same release schedule for Office 11. The invitations for Office 11 were sent out in September/October 2002 and the beta began in November 2002. Beta of Office 11 was in March of 2003, so I suspect its the same for Office 12. We might be surprised with Beta 3 too.