diff --git a/cometd-archetypes/dojo-jetty7/pom.xml b/cometd-archetypes/dojo-jetty7/pom.xml
index cd7c90008..7e1b98004 100644
--- a/cometd-archetypes/dojo-jetty7/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-archetypes/dojo-jetty7/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd.archetypes</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-archetypes-project</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-archetypes/dojo-jetty8/pom.xml b/cometd-archetypes/dojo-jetty8/pom.xml
index d73f5e6a6..9eb5a09c4 100644
--- a/cometd-archetypes/dojo-jetty8/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-archetypes/dojo-jetty8/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd.archetypes</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-archetypes-project</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-archetypes/jquery-jetty7/pom.xml b/cometd-archetypes/jquery-jetty7/pom.xml
index b74346dbe..b43f525a4 100644
--- a/cometd-archetypes/jquery-jetty7/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-archetypes/jquery-jetty7/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd.archetypes</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-archetypes-project</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-archetypes/jquery-jetty8/pom.xml b/cometd-archetypes/jquery-jetty8/pom.xml
index 5fbab5179..b82987b8c 100644
--- a/cometd-archetypes/jquery-jetty8/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-archetypes/jquery-jetty8/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd.archetypes</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-archetypes-project</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-archetypes/pom.xml b/cometd-archetypes/pom.xml
index 3aae27a38..b783e2359 100644
--- a/cometd-archetypes/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-archetypes/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-project</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-archetypes/spring-dojo-jetty7/pom.xml b/cometd-archetypes/spring-dojo-jetty7/pom.xml
index 8d33f47c7..d6452222b 100644
--- a/cometd-archetypes/spring-dojo-jetty7/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-archetypes/spring-dojo-jetty7/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd.archetypes</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-archetypes-project</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-archetypes/spring-jquery-jetty7/pom.xml b/cometd-archetypes/spring-jquery-jetty7/pom.xml
index b717b0f15..7b62a98bc 100644
--- a/cometd-archetypes/spring-jquery-jetty7/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-archetypes/spring-jquery-jetty7/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd.archetypes</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-archetypes-project</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-demo/pom.xml b/cometd-demo/pom.xml
index f7df1765a..161761421 100644
--- a/cometd-demo/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-demo/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-project</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-distribution/pom.xml b/cometd-distribution/pom.xml
index 38eb765d4..e7813532f 100644
--- a/cometd-distribution/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-distribution/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-project</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-java/bayeux-api/pom.xml b/cometd-java/bayeux-api/pom.xml
index 2733d2967..bc8f193ef 100644
--- a/cometd-java/bayeux-api/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-java/bayeux-api/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd.java</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-java</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-java/cometd-java-annotations/pom.xml b/cometd-java/cometd-java-annotations/pom.xml
index 0a88fb6f5..c1e82a41e 100644
--- a/cometd-java/cometd-java-annotations/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-java/cometd-java-annotations/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd.java</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-java</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-java/cometd-java-client/pom.xml b/cometd-java/cometd-java-client/pom.xml
index 041058795..9d7599b56 100644
--- a/cometd-java/cometd-java-client/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-java/cometd-java-client/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd.java</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-java</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-java/cometd-java-common/pom.xml b/cometd-java/cometd-java-common/pom.xml
index b679fa7b9..9b8191f21 100644
--- a/cometd-java/cometd-java-common/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-java/cometd-java-common/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd.java</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-java</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-java/cometd-java-examples/pom.xml b/cometd-java/cometd-java-examples/pom.xml
index 8196e5b7f..adb5b35fc 100644
--- a/cometd-java/cometd-java-examples/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-java/cometd-java-examples/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd.java</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-java</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-java/cometd-java-oort/pom.xml b/cometd-java/cometd-java-oort/pom.xml
index c2906a7df..fad10a868 100644
--- a/cometd-java/cometd-java-oort/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-java/cometd-java-oort/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd.java</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-java</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-java/cometd-java-server/pom.xml b/cometd-java/cometd-java-server/pom.xml
index 425dc09f7..3b35d4609 100644
--- a/cometd-java/cometd-java-server/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-java/cometd-java-server/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd.java</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-java</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-java/cometd-websocket-jetty/pom.xml b/cometd-java/cometd-websocket-jetty/pom.xml
index 5eec5c09e..005772723 100644
--- a/cometd-java/cometd-websocket-jetty/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-java/cometd-websocket-jetty/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd.java</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-java</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-java/pom.xml b/cometd-java/pom.xml
index 38927d4b7..cd35117bf 100644
--- a/cometd-java/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-java/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-project</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-javascript/common-test/pom.xml b/cometd-javascript/common-test/pom.xml
index cde8aa0bc..2720009a9 100644
--- a/cometd-javascript/common-test/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-javascript/common-test/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd.javascript</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-javascript-project</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-javascript/common/pom.xml b/cometd-javascript/common/pom.xml
index e70ad98e7..d4d2593e8 100644
--- a/cometd-javascript/common/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-javascript/common/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd.javascript</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-javascript-project</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-javascript/dojo/pom.xml b/cometd-javascript/dojo/pom.xml
index ddf534139..efc227f43 100644
--- a/cometd-javascript/dojo/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-javascript/dojo/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd.javascript</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-javascript-project</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-javascript/examples-dojo/pom.xml b/cometd-javascript/examples-dojo/pom.xml
index 7c7f391f5..feba5bd7a 100644
--- a/cometd-javascript/examples-dojo/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-javascript/examples-dojo/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd.javascript</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-javascript-project</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-javascript/examples-jquery/pom.xml b/cometd-javascript/examples-jquery/pom.xml
index 89962c0ac..947e88023 100644
--- a/cometd-javascript/examples-jquery/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-javascript/examples-jquery/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd.javascript</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-javascript-project</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-javascript/jquery/pom.xml b/cometd-javascript/jquery/pom.xml
index c6cf02405..3cdd412b0 100644
--- a/cometd-javascript/jquery/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-javascript/jquery/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd.javascript</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-javascript-project</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/cometd-javascript/pom.xml b/cometd-javascript/pom.xml
index cde817402..e69540d81 100644
--- a/cometd-javascript/pom.xml
+++ b/cometd-javascript/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.cometd</groupId>
         <artifactId>cometd-project</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
     </parent>
 
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 8cdb15b6f..d9b92385e 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
     <artifactId>cometd-project</artifactId>
     <packaging>pom</packaging>
     <name>CometD</name>
-    <version>2.8.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.0-beta1</version>
 
     <properties>
         <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@
         <connection>scm:git:git://github.com/cometd/cometd.git</connection>
         <developerConnection>scm:git:ssh://git@github.com/cometd/cometd.git</developerConnection>
         <url>https://github.com/cometd/cometd</url>
-      <tag>HEAD</tag>
+      <tag>2.8.0-beta1</tag>
   </scm>
 
     <organization>