Microsoft has a code name for the next version of Windows. But what is the planned delivery date for the product, and what of its successor, "Vienna"? No one's talking, but plenty are speculating. (Microsoft Watch)Will the delay in Microsofts Windows Vista have a domino effect on other planned releases of Windows?
Partner sources close to the company said that Microsoft has sketched out plans for Windows "Fiji" (also referred to by some Microsoft watchers as Vista R2)—the version of Windows set to follow Vista—as for Windows "Vienna," the successor to Fiji, partner sources close to the company said.
Microsoft has not shared broadly its working feature set for Fiji, according to partners contacted by Microsoft Watch.
Nor have company executives talked about whats on tap for Vienna, the version of Windows formerly code-named Blackcomb.
And exactly when either Fiji or Vienna will hit is anyones guess.
Since Microsoft announced at the end of March that Vista was running behind schedule and would not be ready to launch in time for the 2006 holiday season, Microsoft brass have gone mum about its future plans for its desktop and server Windows releases.
When asked about the Windows rollout schedule, Microsoft officials decline to comment, insisting that all hands are working on fixing Vista bugs to get that product to manufacturing in the latter half of 2006.
Click here to read about why corporations arent in a hurry to move to Vista.
Before Microsoft officials made the decision to delay Vistas launch until January 2007, Microsoft was shooting to roll out a new version of Windows desktop and Windows server every two years. Until recently, that made Fijis target delivery date 2008 and Viennas 2010.
Longhorn Server, meanwhile, was (and still is, according to Microsofts last official word on the subject) slated for release in 2007. Longhorn Server R2 was targeted for 2009 and Vienna Server for 2011.
Will pushing back Vistas release-to-manufacturing date by a few weeks or months play havoc with these already tentative schedules?
Read the full story on Microsoft Watch: Will Windows Vistas Delay Push Back Fiji?
Check out eWEEK.coms for Microsoft and Windows news, views and analysis.
