Microsoft has managed to break its own Windows Omerta. While not issuing any official comments or details on the successor of Windows Vista, Microsoft did manage to let a PowerPoint presentation entitled "Windows Future Investment Areas" slip through its censorship. Windows Seven is expected to be made available in 2009 and it will be building on the Windows Vista Foundation.

The two slides included herein have been extracted from a PowerPoint presentation delivered by Senior Technology Specialist, Michael S. Hanson from Microsoft Denmark on January 31, 2007 and published by AeroXP. The presentation was available for download here, but Microsoft has subsequently removed it. Two code-names have been associated with the next edition of Windows: Fiji and Seven. As Fiji is in fact the upcoming out-of band release of Windows Media Center, the Windows future investments point out to Seven.

Building on the Vista foundation, the future investment areas for Windows Seven Four will focus on functionality, connectivity, security and cost reduction and will target end users and IT professionals.

Here are Microsoft's plans for Windows Seven:

Functionality:
-Converging local, network and internet search functionality.
-Enhance Enterprise management of find and organize backup, permissions and schemas.
-Further advance intuitive user experience and role-based context.
-Integrate automated application provisioning and cross-app data transparency.

Connectivity:
-Deliver anywhere, anytime, any device access to data and applications.
-Enable robust ad hoc collaboration experience.
-Expand wireless connectivity, management and security functionality.
-Optimize performance and functionality for current and emerging mobile hardware.
-Extend multiple device sync, management and data protection capabilities.
-Enable flexible computing infrastructures including rich, thin and network-centric models.

Security:
-Extend data protection and management to peripheral devices.
-Advance role-based computing scenarios and user-account management.
-Bridge the inherent conflicts between data protection and robust collaboration.
-Enable Enterprise-wide data protection and permissions.
-Expand application compliance and usage monitoring.

Cost reduction:
- Enable seamless OS, application and data migration - simplified PC provisioning/upgrade.
-Achieve non-disruptive application updating and patching.
-Evolve hardware and software virtualization scenarios.
-Expand PC self-help and IT Pro problem resolution diagnostics.