Most of the attention on Redmond this year is focused on the upcoming Windows 8 operating system. But, the next generation of Microsoft Office is also currently under development–ostensibly to be launched along side Windows 8 this fall–and Office 15 has the potential to be the real hero among the two.

Microsoft has made a number of major changes to the latest version of Windows—not the least of which are the touchscreen optimized Metro interface, and adding ARM-based tablets as an option. But, as the de facto productivity suite for businesses, Microsoft Office is the standard bearer of the Microsoft Windows operating system and Office 15 has the power to drive adoption of Windows 8 by taking advantage of the unique capabilities of the new OS.