In an open letter to developers posted on the Windows Vista Developer Center Web site, Jim Allchin, co-president of the platforms and services division at Microsoft, is looking to entice developers to build for the upcoming Windows Vista OS and ensure compatability.Vista is due to businesses later this year and consumers in January. “Windows Vista is going to give you, developers, new opportunities on a scale you haven’t seen since Windows 95. Industry analysts predict that some 200 million people will be using Windows Vista within the first 24 months of launch. We’re rapidly approaching launch, and then millions of people will be looking for applications. People will flock to software that is new, compelling, and ‘cool.’ You have got to be ready for this opportunity. We have invested heavily in both the .Net Framework 3.0 and traditional Win32 APIs in Windows Vista,” Allchin said. Using Visual Studio, developers can create applications that “visually stunning, connected, workflow-enabled and secure,” Allchin said. He also urges developers to make sure their application is compatible. “We have made tremendous investments in Windows Vista to ensure backwards compatibility, but some of the system enhancements, such as User Access Control, changes to the networking stack, and the new graphics model, may require code changes on your part. You should work hard to run as standard user,” Allchin said.Microsoft also is offering tools, such as an Application Compatibility Handbook. Software Development