Geared to hardware vendors, equipment manufacturers, developers and software vendors, the program offers access to Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 beta builds, development and test toolkits, technical documents and application testing labs via . Lab access will be available for in-person access as well as online and via Microsoft Live Meeting sessions.

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The two operating systems also can be accessed via virtual servers for remote testing.

"We're really focused on making sure the ecosystem has access," to information, tools and software, said Jeff Price, senior director in the Windows group at Microsoft.

In preparation for Windows 7, Microsoft has decided to approach partners early and plan with them in a more systematic way, said Mike Nash, corporate vice president of Windows Product Management at Microsoft, in an interview published on the company's PressPass Web site.