Microsoft has started sending e-mail notification program participants Office 2010 Technical Beta. They Redmond company announced that phase of testing for a new package of Office 2010 comes to an end on April 30. Doing this suite of applications should get the status of RTM (Release To Manufacturing) until the end of this month, and the official debut of Office 2010 for business customers is scheduled for May 12.

At the same time release the final version of Office 2010 for ordinary consumers is expected on June 15. Recall, Office 2010 will be available in five versions - Office 2010 Starter (free version with reduced functionality and ad-supported), Office Professional Academic ($ 99), Office Home and Student ($ 149), Office Home and Business ($ 279) and Office Professional ( $ 499).

Among the interesting features of the new package from Microsoft can be noted a new kind of Backstage, interface Ribbon, replacing the traditional menus and toolbars, the function of Outlook Social Connector and new tools for editing images and video. There will also be improved navigation options and search.