Next Windows Version: 2006 Target

[Tombstone]

SEATTLE -- Microsoft said on Friday it will ship the next version of Windows in 2006, but scaled back plans to include a new system for finding and storing information in its flagship operating system.

That's the first time that the world's largest software maker has committed to a launch target for the ambitious upgrade to Windows, code-named Longhorn, since shipping the current version, Windows XP,in October 2001.