Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer is scheduled to unveil Windows Vista and Office 2007 to businesses on 30 November at a company event at New York's Nasdaq stock exchange. 

Businesses are scheduled to get access to Office 2007 and Windows Vista this November to allow them to test the software with their applications and systems.

The mainstream launch of the two software titles is scheduled for January 2007, at which point the software will also start shipping on new computers.

Consumers and businesses purchasing new hardware in the weeks prior to the Vista launch will receive upgrade coupons.

Depending on the Windows version that comes bundled with their systems, they will be entitled to a free upgrade or receive a 50 per cent discount on the Windows Vista retail price.

Windows Vista was originally scheduled for release by the end of this year. Citing "quality issues", the company was forced in March to delay the launch.

Microsoft later pushed back the launch of Office 2007 as well to allow both applications to be unveiled simultaneously.

Microsoft also plans to use the New York event to launch Exchange 2007.