Windows Vista SP2 Hits Release to Manufacturing

We knew it was coming.

Microsoft announced on its Windows Team Blog that Windows Vista Service Pack 2 has hit the the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) milestone.

New PCs bundled with Windows Vista will soon be shipping with Service Pack 2 integrated.

Some of the key benefits of Windows Vista SP2 include:

• Windows Search 4.0 for faster and improved relevancy in searches
• Bluetooth 2.1 Feature Pack supporting the most recent specification for Bluetooth Technology
• Ability to record data on to Blu-Ray media natively in Windows Vista
• Adds Windows Connect Now (WCN) to simplify Wi-Fi Configuration
• Windows Vista SP2 enables the exFAT file system to support UTC timestamps, which allows correct file synchronization across time zones.

Windows Communications Manager Brandon LeBlanc had this to add:

“Business customers with Windows Vista will find that the transition from Windows Vista to Windows 7 will be significantly more straightforward due to the high degree of compatibility between Windows Vista and Windows 7. If your Windows Vista SP1 deployment is already underway we recommend you continue with SP1 as planned. Then you can deploy SP2 using your systems management infrastructure.  If you are in the early stages of deployment or still planning Windows Vista deployment our best advice is that you plan on testing and deploying Windows Vista SP2.”

Microsoft hasn’t yet revealed a specific date of release for end users other than sometime during Q2.