XP Release Schedule Updated

EXCLUSIVE BetaNews has received an updated release schedule for Windows XP, placing RTM between August 8 and August 28. Microsoft has not set a firm date for a release to manufacturing according to an internal schedule sent to partners last week, however the company plans to launch Release Candidate 1 (RC1) on June 20 and follow with RC2 on July 18. While still in limbo, RTM is now expected to occur around mid-August, one month later than previous reports had stated.

This latest schedule coincides with last week's announcement by Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, that XP will ship on October 25.

The arrival of RC1 will mark the final testing phase for Windows XP, an important milestone toward completion of the beta. Microsoft recently released interim build 2469 to testers, with build 2475 slated to appear shortly.

April news reports had RTM set a month earlier on July 25, although Microsoft will continually tweak the XP release schedule depending on bugs and other outstanding issues. The only date firmly set in stone is the October 25 launch.