When Microsoft releases "Longhorn," the sucessor to Windows XP,
sometime in 2005-06, it will probably include IE 7. Earlier operating
systems will be stuck with IE 6, although XP users will be able to download
IE 6 SP2, which includes pop-up blocking and better security features.
Users of Win 98, ME cannot go further than IE 6 SP1. That's how I
understand it, anyway. Maybe Microsoft will change their mind.