Microsoft has announced that it wrapped up its Desktop Optimization Pack for Windows Vista and that an updated and complete version of the offering will be made available for download on July 1 2007. Back in October 2006, Microsoft was announcing plans to bundle desktop management technologies from Softricity, Winternals, DesktopStandard and AssetMetrix into a package designed exclusively for Windows Vista Enterprise and for the company's Software Assurance customers.

"Back in October 2006 I introduced a new desktop management solution for Windows PCs called the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack. The demand for these tools has been incredible and more than 1 million licenses have been sold already. For those not familiar with the Optimization Pack, it is a set of desktop management tools available as an additional subscription through Microsoft's Software Assurance licensing program that enables customers to increase desktop manageability, reduce the total cost of ownership, and improve overall infrastructure optimization," Microsoft's Alex Heaton revealed.

The Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance and for Windows Vista Enterprise comprises SoftGrid Application Virtualization, Asset Inventory Service, Advanced Group Policy Management, Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset and System Center Desktop Error Monitoring. Microsoft has left a few crumbs of the Desktop Optimization Pack slip through its fingers, but hinted that the final version would be delivered in the summer of 2007. Now Windows Senior Product Manager Alex Heaton has finally put a date on the Desktop Optimization Pack launch, namely July 1.

"And this week we are announcing the addition of a 5th component, System Center Desktop Error Monitoring, which gives IT professionals a central way to analyze data from OS and Application crashes and hangs, so they can more quickly identify and resolve problems. More news out this week is that the first versions of all of the components of the Desktop Optimization Pack will be available for download on July 1st along with the Windows Vista compatible version of SoftGrid," Heaton added.