Business Digest

NATION

Microsoft to sell 4 versions of Office 2010 software

SEATTLE — Microsoft Corp. will sell four versions of the forthcoming Office 2010 software, due out in June, for prices ranging from $99 to $499.

The company said Tuesday it will sell Office Home and Student edition, which comes with four core programs, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, for $149 as boxed software that can be used on three computers in the home. A “Product Key Card,” which has a code to unlock one copy of Office 2010 pre-loaded on new PCs, costs $119.

Microsoft will sell an education-only version, Office Professional Academic, through campus book stores and some retailers for $99. Besides the core programs, the academic version comes with the Outlook e-mail program, Publisher for desktop publishing and the Access database software.

Report: Apple to unveil multimedia tablet gadget

SAN JOSE, Calif. — In the latest sign that Apple’s long-rumored multimedia tablet gadget is about to take center stage, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that the device will be unveiled by Steve Jobs on Jan. 27.

The paper said the Cupertino, Calif., company is putting the finishing touches on a product with at 10- or 11-inch screen that will sell for $1,000, citing people “briefed by the company.” Other Apple observers have placed the price tag of the rumored iTablet or iSlate at $800.

Associated Press