Microsoft's release of Internet Explorer 7 almost a year ago (for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003) was accompanied to the market by customized versions of the browser put together by the likes of Yahoo and Google. The process of building a fully customized version of Internet Explorer 7 is opened to all users via the Internet Explorer Administration Kit 7. While IEAK 7 has been around for quite a while, Microsoft just made an updated version of the tool available as a free download. According to the Redmond company, the latest build of IEAK7 is the version released to manufacturing, and can be used to tweak IE7 RTM.

IEAK7 will permit users to brand their own copy of Internet Explorer 7. The browser's title bar can be altered in accordance with a certain brand or by adding any wording designed to personalize the browsing experience. Users have to understand that, at the same time, IEAK7 does not allow for IE7 customization in the same manner that the Firefox open source product can be personalized.

"You can preset the following Web pages and links: customer support page; users' home page; users' search providers; links in the Links bar, in the Favorites bar, to Explorer Bars; Add-on Components page (for optional components). You can also customize the appearance of the browser software so that your organization's content is more prominent when the user browses the Internet", Microsoft informed.

IEAK7 is delivered in an array of flavors, coming in no less than 24 different languages. Microsoft informed that the administration kit offers support for Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1; Windows Vista and Windows XP Service Pack 2. Essentially, IEAK7 is designed to deliver users with control over the deployment and management process inherently associated with web-based solutions. Microsoft is of course betting on the fact that users will welcome the opportunity to personalize the installations of Internet Explorer 7, tailorfitting the browser to specific environments via branding, platform requirements, additional information across the title bar, and handle add-ons and custom browser packages.

Internet Explorer Administration Kit 7 can be downloaded from here.