Win XP SP3 beta for large businesses?

I work for a large corporation (over 9000 storefront locations) that develops its own software to work with Windows XP.

I have been tasked, somewhat informally, with finding out information about how to participate in the beta testing program for Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3. The information I have found indicates that this will only be available to beta testers of Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008. I have been told that our company IS part of these programs, but I need to find out what steps we need to take in order to obtain official builds, documentation, etc., without having to talk to the developers.

It's a bit of a catch-22 since I have no involvement whatsoever with the development department and so I don't know any details about how the beta programs we're already participating in work. I have not been able to find much information from basic Internet research, except where to download leaked builds, and Microsoft's own KB936929 article on SP3, which doesn't seem to indicate how to participate in the beta.

I realize I'm on quite a fishing expedition, but any help on this matter would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance to anyone who offers help.

 

>> I have been tasked, somewhat informally, with finding out information about how to participate in the beta testing program for Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3. I have been told that our company IS part of these programs, but I need to find out what steps we need to take in order to obtain official builds, documentation, etc., without having to talk to the developers. <<

This part of your post is a bit confusing: "I need to find out what steps we need to take in order to obtain official builds, documentation, etc., without having to talk to the developers."

This begs the question: Why wouldn't you want to talk to the developers?

In any case:
The best way to obtain information on how "to participate in the beta testing program for Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3" would be to contact Microsoft directly and ask them how to go about this.

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Contact Microsoft by Telephone:
(800) MICROSOFT (642-7676)
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Other Microsoft Contacts, Phone Numbers,
Support Options, Online Help: Click Here
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Good Luck!

 

Thanks for the help guys.

FWIW, in response to this question:

"This begs the question: Why wouldn't you want to talk to the developers?"

The answer is, because I'm a peon and have been delegated this task by someone who, himself, is not a developer. If actual interaction with the developers will be required to gain the necessary information, it won't be me doing it. At the same time, I would LIKE to be able to come back to them with something useful so I don't look so useless.

 

Public beta (RC?) will/may be available in December.