New Version of Windows Coming in '06
Erik S. Lesser/Microsoft, via Associated Press
Published: July 23, 2005

Microsoft said yesterday that the new version of its Windows operating system would be named Vista and available for commercial release in late 2006.

The first of two test versions of the program will be made available to corporate technology managers on Aug. 3, the company said. The new version has been known as Longhorn since development began more than four years ago.

Windows Vista will be the first major upgrade to Microsoft's flagship product since the release of Windows XP in 2001. Windows runs on more than 90 percent of the world's computers and accounts for about a third of the company's revenue.