Microsoft has updated the client designed to let users connect health-related info and fitness devices directly with the HealthVault service. At the end of the past week, the second Beta development milestone of HealthVault Connection Center 2.1 went live on the Microsoft Download Center and is now up for grabs for users that wish to store their medical and fitness information online in the software giant's cloud. The HealthVault Connection Center will grab various measurements and metrics, including glucometers, blood pressure monitors, pedometers, and other devices, and upload them to a specific HealthVault account.

“HealthVault Connection Center 2.1 provides quick and easy upload of device data to HealthVault and helps you use the data with Web sites and applications that work with HealthVault. This most current release includes the following improvements: new uploads from your health and fitness monitoring devices take much less storage in your HealthVault account, so you can take frequent readings from multiple devices and always have plenty of space. For each device you use, direct links to Web sites that work with your data make it easier to track your health and fitness and meet your wellness goals,” Microsoft explained.

The Redmond-based company made available for download two releases of the HealthVault Connection Center 2.1 Beta 2, tailored to Windows Vista and Windows XP. The software giant advices all current users of the HealthVault Connection Center to make the jump to the latest release. According to the maker, all versions of the solution lower than 2.1.2034.4210 are due for an upgrade. HealthVault Connection Center is, of course, available as a free download from Microsoft.

Additional improvements for HealthVault Connection Center include: “A more streamlined HealthVault Weight Gadget (formerly known as HealthVault Gadget) lets you upload your weight in one click from the Sidebar on your Windows Vista desktop. You can opt to allow the Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement Program to send information to Microsoft (anonymously and automatically) about how Connection Center performs on your computer. We aggregate data from all participating users and learn from it to improve future Connection Center releases. Also at your option, you can send an error report about any trouble in the installation process. Doing so allows us to send you a solution, if one is available, and make improvements,” the software giant noted.

HealthVault Connection Center 2.1 Beta 2 is available for download here.