Microsoft Corp. has released to manufacturing (RTM) Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, the next versions of its flagship desktop and server operating systems.

With the completion of this development phase, industry partners are readying products in time for the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 worldwide general launches. Windows 7 will launch to customers around the world in October. As always, current Windows Volume License customers, MSDN subscribers and TechNet subscribers will get first customer access to Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 in the coming weeks.

Pierre Mallia, Country Manager for Microsoft Malta, said: “Today Microsoft has reached a significant milestone in delivering Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 to our manufacturing partners. Together these tools will help to reduce the cost and complexity for local businesses. They make users more productive by automating everyday tasks, delivering enhanced security and steamlining manageability.”

Microsoft made the announcement on its Windows Team and Windows Server Blogs. For those wishing to get more information can log in the following links:

Windows Team Blog, http://windowsteamblog.com

Windows Server Blog, http://blogs.technet.com/windowsserver

Partner web sites, http://readyset7.com and http://talkingaboutwindows.com/Default.aspx

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 for businesses, http://www.microsoft.com/windows/default.aspx and http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/R2.aspx

“Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 both provide more reliable, more responsive and easier to use systems”, said Jonathan Vella, Information Solutions Architect at Infomate Ltd. “Some of our customers have already experienced the beta versions of Windows 7 and most of them are now eager to deploy the product on all of their workstations. Furthermore we already have a good number of customers who are already benefiting from the Windows Server 2008 R2 facilities.”