14 DAY TRIAL // Last week brought with it the first month anniversary for Internet Explorer 9, counting from the moment the browser was released to web. This week brings with it another milestone in IE9’s release process, as Microsoft will start rolling out the successor of IE8 to Windows 7 and Windows Vista SP2 users worldwide.
Essentially, the software giant will be offering customers running the latest releases of Windows the chance to upgrade to Internet Explorer 9 RTW.
Not all Windows 7 and Vista SP2 users will receive IE9 RTW via Windows Updates simultaneously. As with all major roll outs of Microsoft software, this too will be done gradually.
“We will offer IE9 to customers via a gradual rollout and expect the rollout to be largely complete by the end of June. Similar to our approach for IE8, we will use Windows Update to deliver IE9 to users,” revealed Roger Capriotti, Director, Internet Explorer Marketing.
As of March 28, 2011, the Redmond company started offering IE9 Beta and Release Candidate (RC) testers IE9 RTW via WU.
As for the early adopters, IE8 on Windows 7 and Vista will not be upgraded automatically. Users will need to give green light to IE9 installations even though the browser is served as a refresh through WU.
I have already provided information on the IE9 Blocker Toolkit which can be used to block IE8 to IE9 upgrades through WU for those users that are not yet ready to make the jump to the latest iteration of Internet Explorer.
“For our business customers who require time to plan and test their deployments, we will make IE9 available on Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) in June. WSUS allows use of management tools that make it easy for IT professionals to deploy IE9 in their environments in an automated fashion and at their own pace,” Capriotti added.
Windows Internet Explorer 9 RTW for Windows 7 and Windows 7 SP1 is available for download here.
Windows Internet Explorer 9 RTW for Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 is available for download here.
Windows Internet Explorer 9 RTW for Windows Vista SP2 64-bit edition and Windows Server 2008 SP2 64-bit edition is available for download here.
Windows Internet Explorer 9 RTW for Windows 7 64-bit edition, Windows 7 SP1 64-bit edition, Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit edition and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 64-bit edition is available for download here.