Microsoft releases new test build of its online-offline synchronization tool

Microsoft has posted for public download a new test build of its synchronization framework that allows Web services, devices and applications to work offline.

Microsoft made available the Community Technology Preview (CTP) 2 test build of the Microsoft Sync Framework via its Downloads Site on March 4, the first day of its Microsoft Mix '08 conference in Las Vegas.

As described on the Downloads site, Sync Framework not only adds online-offline sync to services, but also "provides optimized P2P sync of any type of file including contacts, music, videos, images and settings. The extensible framework includes built-in support for synchronizing relational databases, NTFS/FAT file systems, FeedSync compliant feeds (formerly known as Simple Sharing Extensions), devices and web services."

Microsoft released a CTP-refresh test build of the Sync Framework late last year. The CTP2 release is application-programming-interface (API) complete, according to the company. It also includes improved performance and simplification of the APIs and core patterns that are part of the framework.

The Sync Framework works on Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows 2000 Service Pack 3.

I wonder what Mix-related announcements involving the Sync Framework Microsoft has up its sleeve. Any guesses?