Php – Fatal error: Class ‘COM’ not found PHP. Win7 – Apache – PHP

$myapp = new COM("word.application");
// returns a fatal error: "Class 'COM' not found in c:/www/comConnector.php"

shell_exec("whoami");
//returns "NT authority/system"

My system setup

• Win7 Pro
• Apache Server version: Apache/2.2.23 (Win32)
• PHP

  PHP 5.3.16 (cli) (built: Aug 15 2012 20:06:57)
  Copyright (c) 1997-2012 The PHP Group
  Zend Engine v2.3.0, Copyright (c) 1998-2012 Zend Technologies