Milestone 1 has been reached, reportedly

Jul 1, 2010 17:08 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft started dropping the first Windows 8 references as early as March 2009; yes, long before Windows 7 was finalized. And the next iteration of the Windows client and server operating systems are now taking shape in Redmond. The software giant already confirmed officially that Windows 8 client and Windows 8 Server are being developed in parallel. Just as it was the case for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Still, the company is mute on the evolution of Windows, including features, capabilities, the actual timetable, etc.

The successor of Windows 7 is planned for availability within three years after the GA of its predecessor. Microsoft said it would impose such a rhythm after the release of Windows Vista, promising to never again repeat the gap between Windows XP and the delivery of the OS initially codenamed Longhorn. It took the software giant less than three years after Vista’s general availability to offer Windows 7 to customers around the world, and the same is valid for Windows 8.

In this regard, Windows 8 is reportedly planned for release by mid-2012, some two years away. Mary-Jo Foley reveals that the planning stage for the platform has been already finalized, and that Microsoft already wrapped up the first Milestone for Windows 8. Some Softpedia readers might still remember that Windows 7 M1 (Milestone 1) was served to early adopters for testing at the end of 2007, with the first copies leaking as early as 2008, a year after Windows Vista hit store shelves.

150 million sold copies of Windows 7 later, we are now at a little after eight months since the latest major version of Windows was released, and almost a year since it RTM’d. Just the right time for Microsoft to start the actual coding for Windows 8.

The company is bound to produce a few Milestone releases of Windows 8, before actually taking it to the next level, and producing the first Beta build. If Windows 7’s development process offers any clues, Windows 8 could hit Beta as early as mid-2011, a year from now. Of course, all reports related to Windows 8 need to be taken with a grain of salt, since no actual details were confirmed by Microsoft.