Windows 7 Naming Announcement

It's official - the next version of the Windows operating system is going to be called Windows 7.

As many of you are probably aware, since Microsoft began development of the next version of the Windows client operating system, we have been referring to it by a codename, "Windows 7."  Today Microsoft has announced that we've decided to officially call the next version of Windows, "Windows 7." Mike Nash, Corporate Vice President for Windows Product Management, has written a blog post, "Introducing Windows 7" about the decision. He says...

"The decision to use the name Windows 7 is about simplicity. Over the years, we have taken different approaches to naming Windows.  We've used version numbers like Windows 3.11, or dates like Windows 98, or "aspirational" monikers like Windows XP or Windows Vista.  And since we do not ship new versions of Windows every year, using a date did not make sense.  Likewise, coming up with an all-new "aspirational" name does not do justice to what we are trying to achieve, which is to stay firmly rooted in our aspirations for Windows Vista, while evolving and refining the substantial investments in platform technology in Windows Vista into the next generation of Windows. Simply put, this is the seventh release of Windows, so therefore "Windows 7" just makes sense."

Visit the official Windows Vista blog to keep up to date on developments.