Unicode Version 5.1 Beta Release

The next version of the Unicode Standard will be Version 5.1.0. The beta  
version of the documentation for Unicode 5.1.0 is located in:

        http://www.unicode.org/versions/Unicode5.1.0/

A page describing the beta release is located here:

        http://www.unicode.org/versions/beta.html

This version is planned for release in March 2008. A beta version of the  
5.1.0 Unicode Character Database files is also available for public  
comment. We strongly encourage implementers to download these files and  
test them with their programs, well before the end of the beta period. See  
the beta page for access to the files.

Any comments on the beta Unicode 5.1.0, the UCD 5.1.0, or the 5.1.0 UAXes  
should be reported using the Unicode reporting form. The comment period  
ends January 28, 2008. All substantive comments must be received by that  
date for consideration at the next UTC meeting. Editorial comments (typos,  
etc) may be submitted after that date for consideration in the final  
editorial work.

Note: All beta files may be updated, replaced, or superseded by other  
files at any time. The beta files will be discarded once Unicode 5.1.0 is  
final. It is inappropriate to cite these files as other than a work in  
progress.

The Unicode Consortium provides early access to updated versions of the  
data files and text to give reviewers and developers as much time as  
possible to ensure a problem-free adoption of version 5.1.0.

The assignment of characters for Unicode 5.1.0 is now stable. There will  
be no further additions or modifications of code points.

One of the main purposes of the beta review period, however, is to verify  
and correct the preliminary character property assignments in the Unicode  
Character Database. Reviewers should check for property changes to existing  
Unicode 5.0.0 characters, as well as the property values for the new  
Unicode 5.1.0 character additions.

The beta review period is a good opportunity to add support for the new  
Unicode 5.1.0 characters in internal versions of software, so that software  
can be tested to verify that the new characters and property assignments  
don't cause problems when upgraded to Version 5.1.0 of Unicode. In  
particular, check carefully for any hard-coded range assumptions about  
Unified CJK Ideographs, because the end range for those has changed from  
U+9FBB to U+9FC3 in this version.

However, because the Unicode Character Database files will be updated  
during the beta review period, before the final Version 5.1.0 is released,  
no products or implementations should be released based on the beta data  
files. For released products, use the final, approved Version 5.1.0 data  
files, expected in March, 2008.

To facilitate the migration of products to the final release version of  
the Unicode Character Database files, dated, diffable XML versions of the  
Unicode Character Database will be made available, so that implementers can  
check the details of any changes that occurred during the beta review  
period.

------------

If you have comments for official consideration, please post them by  
submitting your comments through our feedback & reporting page:

  http://www.unicode.org/reporting.html

If you wish to discuss beta issues on the Unicode mail list, then please  
use the following link to subscribe (if necessary). Please be aware that  
discussion comments on the Unicode mail list are not automatically recorded  
as beta comments. You must use the reporting link above to generate  
comments for official consideration.

  http://www.unicode.org/consortium/distlist.html

Regards,
        Rick McGowan
        Unicode, Inc.