Microsoft has confirmed that the next version of its Windows operating system, Windows 8, will be available to the general public by the "end of October".
Speaking at Microsoft's annual Worldwide Partner Conference in Toronto, Canada on Monday, Windows Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Financial Officer Tami Reller revealed that Windows 8 in on track to Release to Manufacturing (RTM) the first week of August.
RTM is an important step in the release process, which indicates that code for the OS has been finalised. Once Windows 8 reaches RTM, partners will start receiving copies to start building new PCs based on the operating system. Developers and key enterprise customers can expect their Windows 8 copies around the same time.
With the August RTM date, Windows 8 will be on track for general availability by October end, Microsoft
confirmed. It also said Windows 8 will be available in 109 languages across 231 markets worldwide.
Microsoft had earlier
announced that customers running Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 will qualify to download Windows 8 Pro for just $39.99.