Microsoft has begun accepting nominations for the Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Technology Adoption Program. According to Microsoft, the Windows Vista SP1 will be nothing more than a standard service pack. SP1 will comprise no major changes, and in fact, Microsoft is planning only to deliver security updates, hotfixes and to enhance the overall quality of the operating system. With Windows Vista scheduled for customer availability on January 29, 2007, the Redmond software juggernaut is seeking the help of customers and partners via the Technology Adoption Program (TAP).

The TAP participants will be able to test and to provide Microsoft with feedback for Windows Vista Service Pack 1. In order to become an active TAP participant, users will have to deploy pre-release builds of the first service pack for Windows Vista into production environments.

In this context, TAP participants are required to become involved with the deployment of all the pre-release versions of the Windows Vista Service Pack 1. Customers will have to install Vista SP1 within 30 days of the milestone release, in accordance with the product's evolution across the Beta, RC and RTM stages. TAP participants also have to meet certain deployment count goals at each stage, provide feedback and send people to the Redmond campus for onsite training.

In order for a customer to become a participant in the Technology Adoption Program for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 the Technical Account Manager has to be contacted in order to confirm a nomination.