News

Windows 8 Release Date Possibly Leaked

A former Microsoft employee apparently disclosed release-to-manufacturing (RTM) dates for future Microsoft products, including "Office 2012," "Windows Server 2012" and "Windows 8."

The dates are included in a chart that was drawn up by former Microsoft employee Chris Green, which can be accessed here (PDF, 900k). A link to Green's "roadmap draft" can be found on his MSDN blog from Dec. 2, 2009. The Microsoft Kitchen blog (unaffiliated with Microsoft) publicized the supposed leak, which may not be accurate.

The future product names in Green's chart are followed by question marks. Green's MSDN blog includes a statement that the opinions in the blog "are not intended to represent my employer's view." Green apparently was trying to provide a helpful overview of mainstream support and extended support time periods for existing Microsoft products, but the future product dates stayed in the chart.

If Green's chart is accurate, here are RTM dates for products that Microsoft has not yet announced:

  • "Windows 8" on July 1, 2011.
  • "Windows Server 2012" on July 2, 2012.
  • "Office 2012" on July 2, 2012.
  • "SQL Server 2011" on July 1, 2011.
  • "SharePoint Server 2013" on July 1, 2013.
  • "Exchange 2013" on July 1, 2013.
  • "OCS 2010" on Dec. 1, 2010.

Microsoft typically does not publicize the release dates and even the names of products still under wraps. The one confirmed product name is Windows 8 as Microsoft has put out job offerings using that term.

The Windows 8 RTM date appears to be a bit accelerated from Microsoft's typical three-year interval between new operating system releases. However, some RTM dates in the chart are accurate -- at least for existing Microsoft products. For instance, Windows 7 had its RTM on July 22, 2009, which is one day off from the date listed in Green's chart.

The RTM release date is the time when device manufacturers get the bits from Microsoft to start imaging the software for new products.

About the Author

Kurt Mackie is senior news producer for 1105 Media's Converge360 group.

Featured

  • Microsoft Offers Support Extensions for Exchange 2016 and 2019

    Microsoft has introduced a paid Extended Security Update (ESU) program for on-premises Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, offering a crucial safety cushion as both versions near their Oct. 14, 2025 end-of-support date.

  • An image of planes flying around a globe

    2025 Microsoft Conference Calendar: For Partners, IT Pros and Developers

    Here's your guide to all the IT training sessions, partner meet-ups and annual Microsoft conferences you won't want to miss.

  • Notebook

    Microsoft Centers AI, Security and Partner Dogfooding at MCAPS

    Microsoft's second annual MCAPS for Partners event took place Tuesday, delivering a volley of updates and directives for its partners for fiscal 2026.

  • Microsoft Layoffs: AI Is the Obvious Elephant in the Room

    As Microsoft doubles down on an $80 billion bet on AI this fiscal year, its workforce reductions are drawing scrutiny over whether AI's ascent is quietly reshaping its human capital strategy, even as official messaging avoids drawing a direct line.