Microsoft readies new test builds of Exchange 2007 SP1, PerformancePoint 2007

New test builds of Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack (SP) 1 and PerformancePoint Server 2007 are both going to be available to testers for download this week.

Microsoft posted on August 13 the Exchange 2007 SP1 "Technology Preview" (a k a Beta 2) bits for download. New in this feature-complete build is support for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista (from an administrator's perspective); integration with Office Communications Server 2007; new administrative policies; and support for standby replication.

With this Technical Preview build, Microsoft is making the test version of the service pack available to Microsoft Developer Network and TechNet subscribers. Microsoft expects to deliver the final Exchange Server 2007 SP1 in the fourth calendar quarter of 2007, officials said.

Meanwhile, PerforancePoint Server, Microsoft's business-scorecarding business-intelligence application, is due to hit the Community Technology Preview (CTP) 4 milestone this week. Microsoft will make the new build available to selected testers for download from the Microsoft Connect site, according to a posting on PerformancePoint Channel Development Manager Ben Tamblyn's blog.

The new PerformancePoint build includes new monitoring and analytics features, including support for Excel Services as a data source.

When it announced its plans for PerformancePoint 2007 in June 2006, Microsoft officials said to expect the final version of the product to be released in mid-2007. PerformancePoint is the successor to Microsoft's Business Scorecard Manager product, and was formerly codenamed "Biz#."