The salesforce.com Spring ‘12 release is quickly approaching and soon you'll be able to take advantage of exciting new features and functionality! As a Force.com Sandbox customer, you have the opportunity to get early access to Spring ‘12 in your Sandbox and test new customizations and features before your production organization is upgraded. We want to make you aware of the options available to you during this time.

The Sandbox Preview window for Spring ‘12 is scheduled to begin January 21, 2012. If you would like your Sandbox organization take part in the Spring ’12 Preview, your Sandbox will be upgraded January 21, 2012. If you decide to stay on the current Winter ’12 release, your Sandbox will not be upgraded to Spring ‘12 until February 10, 2012. You may need to take action by January 14, 2012 in order to sign-up for the Spring ’12 Preview.

What Do I Need to Do?

Plan for the Preview: From now until January 14, 2012, decide if you would like your Sandbox to take part in the Spring ’12 Preview. Follow these next steps for each Sandbox org that you have.

Note: If you have a full Sandbox, be mindful of the 29-day refresh policy and plan accordingly.

1)    Determine your Sandbox instance: To determine which server your Sandbox is on, log into your production org and navigate to your Sandbox List page (Setup > Data Management > Sandbox).

Determine your sandbox instance by using the location column above.

2)    REFRESH/DO NOT REFRESH: Once you have located your instance, use the chart below to determine if and when you should refresh your Sandbox.

Important: 

• The January 14, 2012 deadline is to ensure that all requested refreshes are complete by January 21, 2012. If you have a large Sandbox, please keep in mind how much time it takes to complete your Sandbox refresh to ensure your copy is completed by January 21, 2012. This may mean that you need to request your refresh in advance of the January 14, 2012 deadline to ensure it completes by January 21, 2012.

Additional Resources:

●     AppExchange Packages and Sandbox Preview Window 

●     FAQ

If you have additional questions about your Sandbox options in conjunction with the Spring ‘12 release, please contact the salesforce.com Customer Support team.