Come January 2009, the Redmond giant plans to start serving Windows 7 Beta via its Microsoft Action Pack. In this context, the next iteration of Windows 7 will be available via a subscription-based software license for the company's registered member partners. The Microsoft Action Pack offers firms the possibility to subscribe to business software solutions from the Redmond giant, including the current and next versions of the Windows client. Along with Windows Vista SP1, Microsoft plans to offer to its Registered Members the first fully-fledged Beta of Windows 7.

“The Microsoft Action Pack Subscription is an annual subscription that provides Registered Members of the Microsoft Partner Program internal-use, full-version software (desktop operating system licenses are upgrade licenses) and sales resources to help you meet your sales goals, stay competitive, and grow your business. NOTE: This is an annual subscription (non-perpetual licenses), not perpetual licenses. This means that if/when your subscription expires, so does your right to use the software included in the subscription,” revealed Eric Ligman, Global Partner Experience Lead, Microsoft Worldwide Partner Group.

At the end of the past week, you were able to read it first right here on Softpedia that Microsoft was planning to offer Windows 7 Beta 1 for download via the January 2009 Quarterly Update Kit via Microsoft Action Pack Subscription. Because the January 2009 Quarterly Update Kit is scheduled to start shipping on January 5, 2008, Windows 7 Beta 1's availability for download was nothing short of imminent. However, since the news broke, Microsoft removed Windows 7 Beta 1 from the contents of the January 2009 Quarterly Update Kit.

“The licenses provided in a MAPS subscription are licensed for use at your Company’s primary business location only and must be used only for your Company’s internal business purposes, application development and testing,” Ligman added. “The licenses are NOT intended for employee personal use at home, for hosting customer’s applications, or for installation at a customer site, and may NOT be resold, transferred, or assigned to any third party. Also, only Registered Members of the Microsoft Partner Program whose primary function is to sell, service, support, or build solutions on the Microsoft platform, as well as to provide solutions based on Microsoft products and technologies to independent third-party customers qualify to subscribe to and use a Microsoft Action Pack Subscription.”