An "IE7 RC1" beta version of the world's most widely used web browser could be downloaded free of charge from the company's website.
"Depending on your feedback, we may post another release candidate" of Internet Explorer 7, Microsoft general manager Dean Hachamovitch wrote in a weblog.
"Were still on track to ship the final IE7 release in the fourth calendar quarter," Mr Hachamovitch wrote.
Microsoft said in a release that it was "confident that developers and designers who optimize their websites and applications with this beta version will be compatible with the final version when it is released later this year."
The new IE is designed with improved performance, stability, security, and application compatibility.
An English-based version beta IE is the first to be released on and will be followed in September by releases supporting other languages including Arabic, Finnish, German, and Japanese.
French and Spanish language IEs will also be released ahead of the final IE version.