As Microsoft is moving forward with the development process of Windows 7, the company's focus is also shifting from Windows Vista to the next iteration of the Windows client. In this case, after the Windows 7 Beta Build 7000 public downloads will be discontinued, the operating system will be featured in a Springboard Series Virtual Roundtable hosted by Mark Russinovich, Microsoft technical fellow. The “Windows 7: To the Beta and Beyond” will have Windows 7 and the platform's features in the limelight in a dialog that is addressed to IT professionals, but not only.

“Join Mark Russinovich and a panel of subject matter experts for a live discussion of what's in store for IT pros with Windows 7. Learn about the evolution of features like Group Policy, BitLocker To Go, DirectAccess, BranchCache, and Software Restriction, then get tips on troubleshooting, deployment, and application compatibility. Bring your questions—Mark and the panel will answer as many as they can during the hour-long event, then publish the rest in a Q&A after the event,” Microsoft's James O'Neill revealed.

Users will have to tune in Tuesday, February 12th, at 11:00am Pacific Time, in order to view Russinovich and his guests discussing Windows 7. At the same time, the event is also interactive, meaning that participants will be able to ask Russinovich and the panel of experts questions, either live or in advance via email. “As part of the 'virtual' experience, you may submit your questions about Windows 7 Beta to the panel live during the event—or submit questions in advance to vrtable at microsoft.com,” O'Neill added.

Microsoft released Windows 7 client Beta and Windows 7 Server Beta (Windows Server 2008 Beta) to the general public on January 10, and January 9, 2009, respectively. Tomorrow, January 24, will be the last day in which the software giant will serve the Windows 7 bits to users that want to participate in the Windows 7 Beta program. Come January 25, official Windows 7 public Beta downloads will be discontinued.

Windows 7 Beta is available for download here.

Product keys to activate Windows 7 Beta are available here.