Microsoft's Desktop Optimisation Pack (MDOP) team has announced the immediate availability of the App-V application virtualisation and streaming product for use with the Windows 7 beta.

App-V is based on the Softgrid technology Microsoft acquired when it purchased Softricity in 2006, and allows users to run apps without needing to install them on a local machine.

"We've been listening to customers who want to see us support Windows 7 early so they can move ahead with their application testing in preparation for their enterprise deployments," read a posting in the MDOP blog.

"We are pleased to announce the immediate availability of App-V 4.5 CU1 for the Windows 7 Beta."

A specific update of the product was needed for Windows 7 because, despite the close application compatibility between Vista and its successor, the product redirects the registry, file system and component calls, and therefore "is in a small class of applications that have very deep interactions specific to a Windows release".

App-V 4.5 CU1 also contains a small number of improvements such as instant access or removal of applications assigned to end users, said Microsoft.

In addition, the MDOP team revealed that the engineering of the next version of App-V is progressing well, and that the Technical Adoption Program for App-V 4.6 will be opened shortly.

"When released, App-V 4.6 will be available to all existing MDOP customers and provide new key features including 64-bit platform support," the blog read.

"Customers interested in App-V 4.6 can watch for registration to become available at Microsoft Connect in Q1 of 2009."