Microsoft has confirmed that it is running versions of post-Internet Explorer 7 inhouse. Bruce Morgan - a Software Development Manager, IE Team and responsible with leading the Vista RSS platform, IE UX, and IE setup teams at Microsoft, revealed in a thread over at Microsoft's Channel 9 that Internet Explorer has moved into the next stage.

Morgan however claims that there is little truth to the speculations surrounding Internet Explorer as the rumors deliver only a minimal amount of information. "While they're not flat out wrong, they're not right, either. That's because they don't really say anything at all. Some of these writers should run for public office - they know how to go on and on without actually saying a word, but leaving you thinking they did. I had a manager like that once, but I digress..." commented Morgan.

However, the speculations related to Microsoft testing an alpha version of Internet Explorer 8.0 are true, although Morgan does not refer specifically to the 8.0 build of IE, but rather to builds of the upcoming versions of the browser.

"We have post-IE7 daily builds running, of course, because that's part of our engineering processes. We're working on improving those processes as well as doing planning for the next version. So sure, people have builds. That's no big thing - certainly nothing anyone would label "an alpha"," Morgan stated.

To translate Morgan's words into a conclusion, yes, Microsoft is dogfooding new builds of Internet Explorer that are positioned post-IE7 development wise, but not an alpha variant of IE 8.0. Internet Explorer 8.0 will be showcased at MIX 07, at the Venitian Hotel in Las Vegas between April 30 and May 2.