Microsoft Releases Windows Vista Beta 2 and Office Beta 2

Microsoft has announced the release of Windows Vista Beta 2 and Windows Server “Longhorn” Beta 2, along with the release of 2007 Microsoft Office System Beta 2.

The company says this is a significant milestone in its history, as it is the first time there is a release of the beta versions of all three of the company’s flagship products simultaneously.

Enterprise customers will start experiencing Windows Vista Beta 2 today via the Customer Technology Preview (CTP) channels.

The Windows Vista Beta 2 is also available now to developers and IT professionals who are subscribers to MSDN or TechNet, as well as to members of the Technology Adoption Program (TAP) and the TechBeta program. Beta 2 will also be more broadly available to additional developers and IT professionals, as well as consumer technology enthusiasts, in the coming weeks as part of the Windows Vista Customer Preview Program (CPP).

In June the Windows Vista Beta will be available for public download so that technology enthusiasts can take an early look at the product.

Microsoft is encouraging enterprises to continue testing Windows Vista for deployment via the beta 2 build, as well as to download the new Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.0, and to provide feedback on the enhanced features, such as search/organize capabilities, mobility enhancements, and improvements to application compatibility and deployment.

Consumer technology enthusiasts are invited to utilize the Windows Vista Upgrade advisor to test their PCs’ ability to run Windows Vista Beta 2. If the PCs are capable, enthusiasts can obtain Windows Vista Beta 2 via the CPP program. More details on the CPP program will be available in the coming weeks.