Microsoft has announced its software trifecta by releasing Beta 2 builds of Windows Vista, Longhorn Server and Office 2007 System at this year's Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC). Copies of Beta 2 builds of Windows Vista and Longhorn Server are available to developers and IT professionals with MSDN and TechNet subscriptions or to members of Technology Adoption Program (TAP) and the TechBeta program. The general public can, however, download Beta 2 copies of 2007 Microsoft Office system immediately.

Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates remarked “The release of these three betas is a significant milestone for Microsoft and a major step toward delivering the platforms that will drive the next decade of computing. The combination of these innovative platform technologies and the new hardware and software being developed by our partners will make PCs and other devices more powerful, more useful and more intelligent for businesses today and into the future.”

Microsoft's software programs have seen some rough seas in past months. The public release of Windows Vista was pushed back to from 2H 06 to January of 2007. On top of that Office 2007 was also delayed to coincide with the launch of Windows Vista.

But while the shipping versions of those powerhouse offerings from Microsoft won't be available until early next year, at least consumers get to play with feature complete builds today in the case of Office 2007 -- the Windows Vista Customer Preview Program (CPP) will launch in the coming weeks.

For those of you who'd like to read more about Microsoft's latest software offerings, you can read Paul Thurrott's reviews of Office 2007 Beta 2 and Windows Vista Beta 2.