Microsoft overhauls Vista beta schedule

Microsoft has reneged on promises to issue a second Vista beta

Microsoft will not issue a second beta of its forthcoming Windows Vista operating system despite repeated promises to do so.

The company will rely instead on its so-called Community Technology Previews (CTPs) to allow developers to test the software.

The cancellation is not the only promise that Microsoft has broken leading up to the release of the final Vista code later this year, as the CTPs will not now be released on a monthly basis.

CTPs for November and January have been skipped, and the next release is scheduled for February.

Microsoft unveiled the first beta of Vista in July and has published CTPs in September, October and December.

A CTP is an interim test release of software that aims to provide Microsoft with additional feedback.

Although the process has not been used for releases of Microsoft's operating systems, the company claims that it leads to better quality and ease of use.