Microsoft has released Internet Explorer 7for Windows XP SP2. IE7 will be sent out as a high priority update on November 1st so if you or your customers have automatic updates turned on your computer will be getting a new web browser.

If you have a web site or online store you need to download IE7 now and start testing. One thing to keep in mind is that once you upgrade to IE7 you’ll no longer have IE6 to test with. I’d recommend keeping at least one computer with the older version to ensure any changes you make don’t break in older browsers.

As a software vendor I find it annoying that Microsoft didn’t give us more warning that IE7 would be pushed out automatically but I can also see the benefits. In a very short time the majority of Windows users will be running the latest browser. This will be the fastest adoption ever and that means we’ll be able to include more new CSS features in BV Commerce.