Microsoft confirmed that they are planning to push Internet explorer 8 to consumers who have Microsoft automatic updates enabled. Windows users can also download Internet Explorer from Microsoft website as stand alone software.

Last week, we released IE8 via Automatic Update to users still running pre-release versions of IE8 (Beta 2 or Release Candidate 1). The goal was to make sure users who chose to install IE8 have the latest up-to-date version.

Starting on or about the third week of April, users still running IE6 or IE7 on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, or Windows Server 2008 will get will get a notification through Automatic Update about IE8. This rollout will start with a narrow audience and expand over time to the entire user base. On Windows XP and Server 2003, the update will be High-Priority. On Windows Vista and Server 2008 it will be Important.

IE8 will not automatically install on machines. Users must opt-in to install IE8. Users will see a Welcome screen that offers choices: Ask later, install now, or don’t install.

IE8 Welcome Screen

Users who decline the automatic update can still download it from http://www.microsoft.com/ie8 or from Windows Update as an optional update.  For more information about the Automatic Update experience

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