A select number of developers are set to receive a beta version of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) as part of Microsoft's development and testing process.

Writing in his blog, Mike Nash, corporate vice president of Windows Product Management revealed that a small group of Technology Adoption Program customers will be getting their hands on the upcoming patch on Wednesday 29 October.

As well as including all the patches released to date since the launch of SP1 last Spring, Vista SP2 includes a range of new features as well as support for new types of hardware and several emerging standards.

Changes highlighted by Nash in his post include the addition of Windows Search 4.0, an improved version of the embedded search engine; the Bluetooth 2.1 Feature Pack, which adds support for the most recent Bluetooth specification; the ability to record data on to Blu-Ray media natively in Windows Vista; easier Wi-Fi configuration; and changes to the file system.

According to Nash, the company will "track customer and partner feedback from the beta program before setting a final date for the release".

Further details of Vista's successor, Windows 7, are due to be revealed at this week's Microsoft Professional Developers Conference in Los Angeles.