Windows 7 Report Final version of free Microsoft

Just more than a week following telling beta testers the last version of Microsoft;s totally free Protection Essentials antimalware product could be released quickly, Microsoft is set to deliver the last bits to the public.I;ve observed a couple of unsourced reports regarding the last MSE (codenamed “Morro”) bits going live on September 29, which is tomorrow. But this tweet from Network World Editor John Fontana sealed it:
I;ve asked Microsoft for an official confirmation but haven;t heard back from anyone. (Muglia is about as official as it gets, though….)Update: Microsoft is now confirming MSE will ship on September 29. From a spokesperson: “I can confirm that Microsoft Protection Essentials,Windows 7 Serial, the company;s highly anticipated no expense consumer safety offering, will be released to the public tomorrow,Windows 7 Professional, September 29th.” It will be available in 19 markets worldwide, according towards the company. The ultimate build no. is 1611 and it is available here: MSE is the replacement for Windows Live OneCare and a superset of Windows Defender. Microsoft officials have said it will work on Windows XP SP2,Office 2007 Key, Windows Vista and Windows 7. More than 400,000 testers are believed to have downloaded the test version of MSE.Microsoft is targeting MSE at customers who are unwilling and unable to pay for protection software. Company officials have said they believed it was worth offering customers a absolutely free item to help thwart protection breaches on unprotected Windows PCs that potentially may very well be used to infect other users; systems.On September 29, Microsoft also is holding a Webcast where CEO Steve Ballmer is planning to detail how Microsoft customers can, with less, do far more. It;s part of the company;s “New Efficiency” enterprise-focused campaign and is slated to touch on a host of soon-to-be-shipping Microsoft products, including Windows 7,Microsoft Office 2007 Enterprise, Windows Server 2008 R2,Office Professional 2010, Exchange 2010, Forefront, System Center and the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack.Microsoft is planning to provide in early 2010 a new edition of its Forefront client, its paid desktop protection product, that competes with/complements MSE. The company is stepping up its message that Windows 7 will offer over just consumer-focused features (which has been Microsoft marketing;s main focus to date).