With Windows Vista spreading into the market with a record pace, ISVs need to have their (existing/new) application compatible for Windows Vista. So, Microsoft has set the standard for such compatibility with the premier logo for application certification, Certified for Windows Vista. For the next-generation applications built on Windows Vista, the Certified for Windows Vista program lets customers know that your solution meets a higher standard of quality and exploits the best of what Windows Vista has to offer. Apart from the highest quality logo on compatibility, the ISVs can also look for a lot of other attractive benefits, including partner points, after successful completion of this logo program. This is the reason why more than 500 applications from more than 200 partners been already titled Certified for Windows Vista .
This logo being a standard of highest quality for a desktop-based application, Microsoft has designed a set of strict requirements for these applications to satisfy. Basically, the ISVs can go through a few documents/resources to start working on this premier logo certification.
There is also a dedicated team, in Microsoft, Windows Logo Program for Software (swlogo@microsoft.com) to guide the ISVs through the logo program.