Microsoft is moving forward with the development of its solution accelerator designed to perform readiness assessment and deliver migration guidance for the company’s top technologies. In this regard, the software giant gave the green light to the Beta testing program for Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 5.0. According to Baldwin Ng (Sr. Product Manager), version 5.0 of the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit is currently in development. However, customers interested in becoming testers and early adopters will not be getting their hands on the bits for Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 5.0 just yet.

Fact is that, for the time being, Microsoft has only opened up the registration for the MAP Toolkit 5.0 Beta program and nothing more. “If you are not a current beta group member of MAP Toolkit, join the MAP Toolkit Beta Program now! If you are a current member of the MAP Toolkit beta program, view the MAP Toolkit Beta Page here,” Baldwin Ng noted.

Just as it was the case for the previous version of the MAP Toolkit, the Beta program for the next iteration of the solution accelerator is hosted on Microsoft Connect. “The Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 5.0 Beta Program is now open. Please stay tuned for our beta availability notification via email,” the Redmond company promises via Connect.

Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 5.0 will continue to be focused on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, just as its precursor, but will also welcome additional software products from Microsoft such as the next iteration of the office System. In addition, the evolution to version 5.0 will make the MAP Toolkit capable of guiding customers through transitions from Linux environments to Windows Server 2008 R2.

“The Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 5.0 Beta Program is now open for registration. This upcoming release of MAP Toolkit will offer new areas including potential scenarios such as desktop migration assessment to Office 2010 and server migration assessment from Linux platforms to Windows Server 2008 R2,” Baldwin Ng added. 

Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 4.0 is available for download here.