"Today at breakfast, Steve Balmer noted that plans have been adjusted internally to suit the announcement by Steve Jobs of, "Snow Leopard." All that's left to do with Windows 7 to reach RTM are three steps:
Step One: Sometime between June 10th and June 15th will be the last build distributed to corporate partners. The build will be 6.1.7229.0.winmain.090604-1901. (Just to be clear, we're talking about formal access assemblies and not what is to continue to be compiled internally, even the latest current build: 6.1.7230.0.winmain.090605-1900 - and this assembly may be RTM Escrow assembly).
Step Two: Only RTM candidate builds will be compiled in mid-June. None of the candidates for RTM will be distributed to any partners.
Step Three: Windows 7 RTM-candidates will be collected until June 21st! In all actuality, you may even receive what will become the RTM release of Windows 7 via the Internet as soon as June 19th.
Completion Note: Since RTM testing is an internal affair (that is, no partners will be involved), that means it is up to them as to which RTM-candidate build will become the official RTM release of Windows 7. The RTM build of Windows 7, though it may come soon, will not immediately be given to testers via the Connect website nor MSDN subscribers.
From here on, be aware that there may be a lot of false information regarding the final release! As soon as we hear the very latest, we will promptly inform you!"
