Microsoft is hard at work cooking the upcoming releases of Windows Vista SP1, Windows XP SP3 and Windows Server 2008 RC 0, formerly codenamed Longhorn. The end of the baking time is planed for September, with all indications at this point focused on the upcoming week. At the end of August, Jon DeVaan, Senior Vice President of the Windows Core Operating System division as well as Nick White, Product Manager with the Vista team revealed that the first full beta of Vista SP1 was scheduled to drop to some 10,000 to 15,000 MSDN and TechNet subscribers in the "next few weeks." Subsequently Microsoft indicated mid September as the possible release date.

However this has not been the case. But the Redmond company, in addition to sending out Vista SP1 Beta invitations to the participants in the Windows Server 2008 Beta program, has also started issuing confirmation of participation to those that have signed up for the first beta refresh to Vista. "Congratulations on being selected to participate in the Windows Vista SP1 beta program. Windows Vista SP1 is an update to Windows Vista that, along with improvements delivered to users via Windows Update, addresses feedback from our customers," reads a fragment of the confirmation as cited by Live Sino.

Microsoft is yet shy as to when exactly Vista SP1 Beta will be made available for download. An announcement on the Microsoft TechNet website promises that a limited beta for the service pack will drop "soon." No other word than "soon." But combining the information delivered by DeVaan and White with the Vista SP1 Beta participation confirmations issued by Microsoft, the release time must be just around the corner.

"In addition to previously released updates, SP1 will contain changes focused on addressing specific reliability and performance issues, supporting new types of hardware, and adding support for several emerging standards. SP1 also continues to improve upon the IT administration experience. SP1 is not intended to be a vehicle for releasing new features; however some existing components do gain enhanced functionality in SP1. You will receive email from MS Connect when images are available for testing. This is only a confirmation that you have been selected to participate," additionally reads the email message from the Windows Beta Team.

One thing that is certain is that Microsoft will deliver the first release candidate for Windows Server 2008 next week. The scenario was confirmed officially by Michael Neil, general manager of virtualization for Microsoft, during the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco. Windows Server 2003 is currently feature complete and in Beta 3 stage. Microsoft's last 32-bit server operating system will be released to manufacturing in 2008 and will be launched at the end of February.

Microsoft also plans to release Windows Vista SP1 in the first quarter of the next year, while Windows XP SP3 will drop by mid 2008. And since we are on the subject, the Redmond company has gone completely quiet about the first fully-fledged beta for Windows XP SP3. As far the third service pack for Windows XP and the first refresh for Vista have been synchronized and chances are that XP SP3 Beta will accompany Vista SP1 Beta.