Microsoft on Thursday released the third beta of its upcoming Internet Explorer 7 browser for Windows XP.

IE 7 beta 3 features changes to the user interface and RSS system as well as improved compatibility and reliability, according to Microsoft. For example, Microsoft reinstated the ability to add an e-mail button to the IE toolbar and added the ability to reorder tabs by dragging them left or right and to scroll to the left or right while zooming.

The latest beta also features tabbed browsing and enables users to update all their RSS feeds, Microsoft said. The company, too, has improved IE 7's compatibility on Web sites and Web applications and fixed several layout rendering bugs. The beta 3 version includes all of the latest IE security bulletins, released on June 13.

Plans call for IE 7 to be rolled out as a stand-alone browser for Windows XP and integrated into Windows Vista.

Microsoft partners said there's demand for the latest IE browser on both Windows clients. Windows XP is the current shipping version of Windows, and the Vista upgrade--with IE 7.0 included--is due to begin shipping later this year.

"Our clients in the Vista TAP program that have tried IE 7 love the product and have asked if they can get it running on Windows XP now," said Marc Harrison, president of Silicon East, a Manalapan, N.J.-based solution provider.