PaulSpoerry.com

So the previously thought RTM date didn’t happen but Mary Jo Foley apparently has the official scoop on dates from Microsoft on when Windows 7 will hit the streets. So who gets it and when?

OEMs: Two days after RTM

ISVs and IHV partners: August 6 (downloadable via Microsoft Connect or MSDN)

Microsoft Gold certified resellers: August 16 (downloadable from the partner portal in English only); October 1 (other language)

TechNet subscribers: August 6 (English only); October 1 (other languages)

MSDN subscribers: August 6 (English only); October 1 (other languages)

Microsoft “Action Pack” subscribers: August 23 (English only); October 1 (remaining languages)

Volume licensees with existing Software Assurance license: August 7 (downloadable from the Volume License Service Center in English); a couple of weeks after that for other languages. (So my original post on when business users would get Windows 7 wasn’t really wrong, after all. Glad we cleared that up. Not!)

Volume licensees without a Software Assurance license: September 1 (downloadable from the Volume License Service Center)

Consumers: General availability begins October 22. Retailers and OEMs will be offering new systems preloaded with Windows 7 and copies of Windows 7 at retail on that day.

Oddly, while Microsoft has stated the above dates it still hasn’t released the official RTM date.

Earlier today GeekSmack.net “confirmed” that Windows 7 was set to RTM (release to manufacturing) on July 13. This coincides with Wzor’s “unconfirmed” rumor last month. A few minutes ago sources close to the company confirmed to Neowin that Windows 7 is indeed set to RTM on July 13. The date, July 13, also coincides with the kickoff of the Worldwide Partner Conference that is taking place in New Orleans.

Note: RTM and GA (General Availability) are two totally different phases. RTM is typically the final build before Windows 7 hits general availability later this year. RTM is provided to manufacturers so they can work out any bugs with hardware devices. General availability is scheduled to launch on October 22. RTM DOES mean that those with subscriptions to TechNet, MSDN, etc will be getting the RTM build on July 13th!