Microsoft has set November 30 as the release date for Vista (and Office 2007) to business customers and January 30, 2007 as the date for the official launch to consumers and The World At Large. Five years, three months and five days after Windows XP made its debut, Microsoft will usher its next-generation OS onto the stage.
APC has been advised by a very well placed source that January 30, 2007 is about to be announced as the official release date for Vista.
In addition, in a move that mirrors previous side-by-side launches of Microsoft's OS and Office suite (in the 95 and XP waves), Office 2007 will also touch down on that day.
However, as previously planned, Vista and Office 2007 will first step out for a 'business launch' on November 30 (alongside Exchange 2007). From that date, the programs will be available to corporate customers who hold an enterprise licence or software assurance deal with Microsoft.
The mainstream 'consumer launch' will take place two months later, at which point stores will offer a riot of Vista retail packs as well as desktops and notebooks pre-loaded with Vista.
Corporate customers, system builders and everyone else who has a spot near the front of the queue should have access to the final code for Vista and Office before the month is out. Both the OS and Office suite are expected to make the transition from a tweaked Release Candidate to the final 'gold master' and hit RTM (Release To Manufacture) stage around the middle of this month.
APC has been advised by a very well placed source that January 30, 2007 is about to be announced as the official release date for Vista.
In addition, in a move that mirrors previous side-by-side launches of Microsoft's OS and Office suite (in the 95 and XP waves), Office 2007 will also touch down on that day.
However, as previously planned, Vista and Office 2007 will first step out for a 'business launch' on November 30 (alongside Exchange 2007). From that date, the programs will be available to corporate customers who hold an enterprise licence or software assurance deal with Microsoft.
The mainstream 'consumer launch' will take place two months later, at which point stores will offer a riot of Vista retail packs as well as desktops and notebooks pre-loaded with Vista.
Corporate customers, system builders and everyone else who has a spot near the front of the queue should have access to the final code for Vista and Office before the month is out. Both the OS and Office suite are expected to make the transition from a tweaked Release Candidate to the final 'gold master' and hit RTM (Release To Manufacture) stage around the middle of this month.
Comment