Vista RC1 Availability Update

Microsoft has officially announced the reopening of Vista testing to its customers with Release Candidate 1. Through Windows Vista program manager, Nick White, the Redmond Company announced on the Windows Vista Team Blog that it has reconsidered its earlier plans to allow access to RC1 only to the testers actively involved with Vista Beta 2, and that it will make the Release Candidate 1 generally available.

"Will Microsoft open testing sign-ups again when RC1 is released? Yes. Will the Customer Preview Program be available for those who missed out on Beta 2 to sign up and get RC1? Yes. If I participated in Beta 2 by downloading a PID and the build, will I be able to participate in RC1 automatically? Yes.," wrote White.

With the RC1, Microsoft will debut Windows Vista's next program phase to new and old users alike, according to Nick White's statements at just six weeks following the release of Visa Beta 2. The Redmond Company has not disclosed any official details related to RC1 other than its general availability rather than opening the testing pool only to the participants in its Customer Release Program that have already obtained, installed and successfully activated the Beta 2 version of the operating system. In the absence of a specific release, Microsoft announced the availability of Release Candidate 1 by the end of September 2006.