It’s only been six months since Vista’s SP1 hit the Internet, but Microsoft execs have already begun to tout SP2. They’ve unveiled some of the improvements the second service pack will bring to the table. Vista SP2 will add Windows Search 4.0 for faster and improved relevancy. It will also come packed in with the Bluetooth 2.1 Feature Pack. Finally, they’ve announced SP2 will also have the ability to natively record data on Blu-Ray media and Windows Connect Now (WCN.) This would allow users to simplify their WiFi configurations.

The press release did not divulge a release date for the service pack nor did it offer up any details on the company’s forthcoming Windows 7.

The house that Bill Gates built has begun sending out Vista SP2 beta invites. It doesn’t appear to add any major new features though it does improve upon some old ones. The internal search engine has been vastly improved. It also adds some bluetooth patches, support for Via’s 64 bit processor and a handful of other app compatibility updates. The invites will continue to be sent out for the next four weeks. No word on the release date of the final.

As usual, I didn’t get an invite. You don’t call. You don’t write. I’m beginning to think we aren’t friends anymore Microsoft.

The first service pack for Windows Vista was reviewed by APCMag and it contains the usual bug fixes and performance tweaks. What’s new is the ability to create a recovery disk, plus a whole bunch of new install packages for Vista’s components. And that’s The Word.

Rumor has it that Microsoft is planning Vista’s very first service pack beta release in mid-July, with a final version of Vista SP1, codenamed "Fiji", hopefully for November.

Meanwhile, work continues on Windows Vienna.