With Windows 7 RC getting ready, Microsoft announced on Monday, the Windows 7 Ecosystem Readiness Program to help hardware and software partners (OEMs and ISVs) ensure that their existing applications, devices and systems will be compatible with Windows 7. The program provides partners with access to Windows 7 builds, development and test toolkits, technical documents, Windows Driver Kit, the Windows Logo Kit, application testing labs and other resources through Microsoft Connect to proceed with the compatability tests of Windows 7.
Hardware developers can get tools and resources from the Windows Hardware Developer Central and Software developers can get their tools and resources from MSDN.
In a Q&A with Microsoft Presspass, Mike Nash, Corporate Vice President of Windows Product Management discusses the new program and how partners can prepare for the availability of Windows 7.
Nash said that the goal is to ensure that partners' existing hardware and applications are compatible with Windows 7 and to test and address any potential performance issues and to make sure their devices, applications and services can take full advantage of the new features.
Nash also added that many of the investments made for Windows 7 started with the development of Windows Vista. The reliability and security investments made in Windows Vista will be retained in Windows 7, making most applications that run on Windows Vista run on Windows 7.
Nash agreed that Windows 7 beta release was the most mature of any beta version of Windows so far.
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