First Windows Phone 8 devices could launch in November

Microsoft gave a brief sneak peek into Windows Phone 8 in June but kept most of the details close to its chest, especially those related to the release of the operating system to hardware partners as well as the general availability of first smartphones running it. ZDNet‘s Microsoft specialist, Mary Jo Foley, has word that the first Windows Phone 8 smartphones could launch only by November this year.
Citing just one source, Foley claims Windows Phone 8 will be ready for release to manufacturing (RTM) in September and will have general availability (GA) on devices in November. This is in sync with what we had been hearing and would ensure there are enough Windows Phone 8 devices adorning store shelves for Christmas shopping period.
Windows Phone 8 is the biggest upgrade ever to Microsoft’s smartphone operating system. It has been built from scratch using code shared with Windows 8 rather than having a Windows CE kernel. It will also be for the first time that smartphones running on Windows Phone would be able to use multi-core processors and high resolution displays, keeping up with general smartphone trends in the market.
Yesterday Microsoft revealed Windows 8 will be available on October 26. It was earlier thought that Microsoft would make both Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 available simultaneously but that does not seem to be the case any more. However, the Windows Phone 8 RTM and GA are rumored planned delivery timelines and these could change anytime. Foley also mentions that Office 2013 will get RTM in November with GA in February.