Microsoft has used its Worldwide Partner Conference to confirm the release of their upcoming and highly anticipated Windows 8 which will be the final version of its new operating system. The announcement came just several weeks after the company released the Windows 8 Release Preview.
According to Windows Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Financial Officer Tami Reller, at the company’s annual Worldwide Partner Conference, Windows 8 is on track to Release to Manufacturing (RTM) the first week of August. For enterprise customers with Software Assurance benefits, they will have full access to Windows 8 bits as early as August.
She also added that RTM is when the company will be turning on the commerce platform so that developers can start earning money for their apps, and the Windows Store will have more to offer for developers. Currently, with the Windows 8 Release Preview, all apps are still free for people to try.
Tami went on to say that Windows 8 will reach general availability by the end of October. What this means is that new Windows 8 and Windows RT PCs will be available to buy and upgrades will be available starting in October. She also mentioned that that Windows 8 will be available in 109 languages across 231 markets worldwide.
Finally, Tami announced a new milestone with Windows 7.
Basically, there is no question that Windows 7 is the bestselling operating system in history – and the number of licenses sold keeps growing. Reller announced that more than 630 million Windows 7 licenses have been sold to date – and that more than half of enterprise desktops today are running Windows 7.
Now Microsoft will only have a little over three months to convince its customers to switch to the new OS. And with new hardware being shipped and about millions of potential upgraders, the company could actually reach their desired milestone with Windows 8 as well.
Only time will reveal what's in store for Microsoft and its fans.
