Microsoft has promised to support PDF files in the next version of its Office software suite. 

Office 12 will have a 'Save as PDF' function to create a PDF and electronically distribute a read-only version of the document.

Microsoft said that enquiries about native support for PDFs is the second most common support call, and that it receives 120,000 queries worldwide for 'PDF' through Microsoft Office Online.

"Our most valued professionals have expressed strongly their desire to see this functionality integrated with Microsoft Office, and we are answering these requests," said Steven Sinofsky, senior vice president of the Microsoft Office product development group.

Sinofsky did not say whether the recent decision by the State of Massachusetts to move away from Office for government systems as the suite does not support rival file formats had any bearing on the decision.