Businesses will get Windows 7 'by end of July'

Windows 7 becomes available to all-comers in October

Windows 7 will be available to business users who have bought volume licences with Software Assurance contracts, before the end of July, according to reports.

A ZDnet.com report cites a tweet by Microsoft enthusiast 'Deeper2K', who posted a picture on the micro-blogging site of an official Microsoft mailing to its reseller partners, in Russian.

Next to the twitpic Deeper2K writes: "Yay! Windows 7 RTM will be available to SA customers by the end of July!"

According to the report, Deeper said that Microsoft will extend a special Windows 7 promotion, whereby users who purchase Software Assurance before 31 August will "have the rights to upgrade to Windows 7 on PCs they purchased starting on August 1, 2008", with 15 per cent off.

Microsoft said last week that it is still on track to release its new operating system to manufacturing before the end of July.

In a press release announcing the appointment of new Windows supremo Steven Sinofsky, the firm spoke of the changing roles for Tami Reller, chief financial officer for Windows, and senior vice president Bill Veghte.

"The transition between Reller and Veghte is timed to take place in late July when Windows 7 reaches the release to manufacturing milestone," said Microsoft.

Windows 7 has already been hailed as a success by many insiders, and Microsoft will be hoping it lives up to the hype after the poor sales figures and reception that met its last major operating system release, Windows Vista.