When Microsoft makes its business pitch for Office 2010 on Wednesday, it will be putting its money where its mouth is.

Only a few hundred people will be in New York to hear Microsoft Business Division president Stephen Elop speak at a live event. Far more will take part via an online "virtual launch," which will be held simultaneously in 60 markets, in 38 different regional variations comprising 26 languages. And that effort is being run using a key component of the new Office--SharePoint 2010.

Microsoft considered using an existing virtual launch tool, or off-the-shelf software from a third party, but decided last year it could get more for its money using the latest version of SharePoint, then still in beta. The new SharePoint meant the site could be made more social and be able to be translated into more languages.

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