Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer announced that a test version of the US software titan's Windows 7 operating system will be available worldwide from tomorrow.
"We are on track to deliver the best version of Windows ever," Ballmer said yesterday while making an opening keynote speech at a premier Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
"We are putting in all the right ingredients: simplicity, reliability and speed." Developers and Microsoft partner companies can begin testing Windows 7 immediately, Ballmer said.
"On Friday we will make the beta available worldwide so users can come online and try Windows 7 at home. I encourage you all to go out and download it."
The eagerly-anticipated successor to Microsoft's Vista operating system will streamline everyday tasks, cut boot-up times, extend battery life and make it simple to weave "smart" Devices into home networks, Microsoft said.