It seems Microsoft will busy over the next few weeks with an expected RC1 of Windows 7  around the end of the month and an RTM of IE8 in March.

According to German online magazine WinFuture, Microsoft started the Escrow phase on February 16. Development is stopped during that phase to ensure that the build does not contain bugs or problems that would prevent its distribution.

The planned released data for the first release candidate of Windows 7 is February 27 according to their information. MSDN and Technet users will be the first to download the Windows 7 release candidate. The download will most likely be available at the same time at Microsoft’s Connect Portal. Users who participate in the Technology Adapters Program will most likely receive the release candidat earlier.

On February 11, Microsoft OCE announced RTM (Release to Market) version of Internet Explorer 8 will be made available to Royalty OEMs in March 2009. Seems quite fast since RC1 seemed like it just came out.

In March 2009, Microsoft will release-to-manufacturing (RTM) Microsoft Internet Explorer® version 8.0 (IE8) to OEMs as an optional supplement to all Windows® XP and Windows Vista® operating system products licensed in the OEM Channel.  

The release of IE8 is a significant milestone in the Windows Vista lifecycle:

* IE8 contains extensive improvements in the areas of performance and reliability.
* IE8 provides OEMs monetization opportunities not available in any other browser.
* Visual Search Suggestions provide the opportunity to configure a search provider and additional services into the search box in IE8 to search for shopping, news/portal sites, social networks sports, and more.
* Web Slices and Accelerators are additional web services within the IE8 monetization ecosystem which content providers have built specifically for IE8. These services provide OEMs opportunities to deliver brand exposure and content updates to users in innovative new ways.
* IE8 further provides OEMs with enhanced user experience, greater user privacy, and security enhancements to lower support costs and minimize the engineering risk of configuring an unknown application on the consumer image.

IE8 will be the standard internet browser present with all Windows® 7 Desktop Operating System Products.

source: msfn.org