Microsoft Update Enters Beta Testing

By David Worthington, www.BetaNews.com

As expected, a beta program for the Microsoft Update (MU) service has opened up to solicit feedback from testers and troubleshoot prior to the site’s scheduled launch later in 2005.

The site unifies Microsoft’s patching services and will be the primary destination for updates to Windows, Office and other applications. Microsoft Update was first announced by Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates during his RSA Conference 2005 keynote.

“Update consolidation is a natural extension of the original Windows Update philosophy. Separate Windows and Office update mechanisms are burden for customers, one that needs to be remedied,” said Jupiter Research senior analyst Joe Wilcox of the beta.

…Microsoft MVPs, customers and partners will also be participating in the test to even out the population to include individuals who are proficient in Office, Exchange and SQL…