Windows 8 has reached the RTM milestone

For some, the wait is finally over! The much-anticipated and talked about release of Windows in Microsoft’s history to-date is now at the release to manufacturing (RTM) milestone.

I was only discussing with a colleague today that it seemed as though Microsoft was running late by a week to announce the RTM milestone, after making the commitment to partners at the recent World-Wide Partner Conference last month in Toronto, Canada that the first week in August would see the RTM bits start shipping to OEM’s.

Turn’s out my conversation was void, as it seems I was the one late by a week! This is what happens when you get more mail than you have time to read.

A post by Brandon LeBlanc over on the Windows Team blog on the 1st of August outlines the release timeline for the relevant audiences leading up to general availability which still is scheduled for October 26th this year.

Here is the key dates mentioned in Brandon’s post:

• August 15th: Developers will be able to download the final version of Windows 8 via your MSDN subscriptions.
• August 15th: IT professionals testing Windows 8 in organizations will be able to access the final version of Windows 8 through your TechNet subscriptions.
• August 16th: Customers with existing Microsoft Software Assurance for Windows will be able to download Windows 8 Enterprise edition through the Volume License Service Center (VLSC), allowing you to test, pilot and begin adopting Windows 8 Enterprise within your organization.
• August 16th: Microsoft Partner Network members will have access to Windows 8.
• August 20th: Microsoft Action Pack Providers (MAPS) receive access to Windows 8.
• September 1st: Volume License customers without Software Assurance will be able to purchase Windows 8 through Microsoft Volume License Resellers.