At Mix '06, Microsoft's Web 2.0 conference in Las Vegas next week, tools for designers won't be the only hot button. Microsoft also will be showcasing Internet Explorer 7.0, distributing new browser bits and sharing ideas on the next version(s) of IE in the works.

Microsoft will dole out at the show what officials are describing as a "layout-complete" version of IE 7.0.

"The important thing about this release is that no further layout changes will be made for IE 7.0," said Microsoft developer Cyra Richardson during a recent online chat on IE.

"The attendees at MIX will receive several items (tools & builds) at the show that will allow them to better test IE compatibility. We will be striving to allow attendees to start testing with the layout complete version of IE7," Richardson added.

Microsoft released in January what it designated as a preview build of IE 7.0 Beta 2. Company officials have not given a firm date for when they plan to distribute the full-fledged Beta 2.

The final IE 7.0 – which will be available both as an integrated part of Windows Vista and as a standalone browser for Windows XP Service Pack 2 – is expected to ship before year end. Windows Vista is expected to launch in November.

Microsoft will be hosting an "IE7 Compat Lab" at Mix '06, where developers can test their applications for compatibility with the latest IE test builds. As Microsoft itself has acknowledged, there could be app-compatibility hiccups with IE 7.0.

As Microsoft acknowledges on the Mix '06 Web site, "reduced need to hack around quirks in older browsers, however, means that existing pages written specifically for older browsers may render differently in IE7. In addition, IE7 includes a number of new security features which may have impact on binary extensions such as toolbars, browser helper objects, and ActiveX controls."

Kicking off the Mix '06 conference on March 20, Dean Hachamovitch, Microsoft General Manager for Internet Explorer team, and unnamed partners will be keynoting right after Microsoft chairman Bill Gates and Web 2.0 maven Tim O'Reilly.

Also on March 20, Microsoft is conducting a "discussion about the future roadmap for Internet Explorer," where company officials will provide "an overview of the direction we envision beyond IE7." Microsoft also will solicit feedback on IE futures at the panel.

Microsoft officials are saying to expect more and more frequent builds of IE, going forward.

"We are looking at regular and frequent releases of IE and continue to build a great team to deliver future versions of IE. Until we are through planning it is difficult to say exactly how frequent but it will certainly not be anywhere near the gap between IE6 and IE7," said Dave Massy, senior program manager on the IE team, during a recent Web chat on IE.

Microsoft released its most recent standalone IE release, IE 6.0, in 2001, and IE 6.0 Service Pack 1 in 2002.