Microsoft Puts Vista on Hold

Updated from 8:50 a.m. EST

Microsoft(MSFT Quote) will delay the consumer version of Vista, the next version of Windows, until January 2007, the company announced Tuesday.

But a version for business will be released in November of this year.

The news ruffled investors who have been assuming that Vista, which is seen as the company's most important product release in years, will ship on time and be a catalyst for strong sales growth. In premarket trading on Instinet Wednesday, Microsoft shares were down 65 cents, or 2.3%, to $27.09. ...