In 2007, Windows Live OneCare accompanied the consumer launch of Windows Vista. And now, more than a year after the latest operating system from Microsoft was released to manufacturing, OneCare is also getting ready to step into the next stage of evolution. At this time, the Redmond company is offering the beta of OneCare version 2.0 for download. But signs from Amazon.com point to the imminent availability of the final version of OneCare 2.0. The e-commerce website is featuring Windows Live OneCare 2.0 and is accepting pre-orders for the antivirus.

"Availability: This item will be released on November 15, 2007. Pre-order now! Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available," reads a message from Amazon.com informing of OneCare's launch. So far there has been nothing but silence from Microsoft on the final release date of the security solution. The Redmond company failed to confirm in any manner 15th of November as the official release date of Windows Live OneCare 2.0.

In mid July, Windows Live OneCare was made available as a free beta download, set up to integrate seamlessly with both 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows Vista and Windows XP. Microsoft has been hammering away at the security solution that delivered poor performances in comparison with other products on the security market since it was introduced.

Vinny Gullotto, general manager of the Microsoft Malware Protection Center revealed, as cited by InfoWorld, said that the company was less than enthusiast with the performances of its antivirus lineup and that consistent efforts have been poured into improving detection rates. According to Gullotto, OneCare's detection rate is situated at this time somewhere between 90 and 95%.

"Windows Live OneCare 2.0 will include several new features that deliver PC tune-ups to help maintain computer performance and reliability, and that ease management in a multiple-PC environment. (...) v. 2.0 will automate tedious but important janitorial tasks such as disk cleanup and disk defragmentation to help keep PCs running at peak performance. Virus scanning will also be included in Windows Live OneCare 2.0. Performance Plus features will run a complete virus and spyware scan to check the entire computer for malicious programs," explained Gina Narkunas, lead product manager for Windows Live OneCare, when the product was released into Beta.