Microsoft Corp. on Monday said that its large volume licensing customers will be able to order Windows 7 operating system starting September 1, 2009. While the world’s largest software developer has not said that volume licensing clients will get Windows 7 more than one and a half months before retail availability, it is clear that large customers will obtain the next-gen OS ahead of other consumers.

At Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans, Bill Veghte, senior vice president of Windows business at Microsoft indicated that volume licensing customers will also be able to acquire Windows 7 with discounts of between 15% and 35% during a special campaign. The move should popularize the idea of migration to the next-generation operating system among companies with huge number of personal computers.

Microsoft is rumoured to announce the release of Windows 7 to manufacturing (RTM) on Monday. The initiation of the RTM process means that the code of the operating system has been finalized and that the manufacturing of physical media of the OS is about to begin.

Microsoft has been working hard to improve user interface as well as performance in Windows 7 and make the new OS much more user friendly overall. Many reviewers and early adopters agree that Microsoft has succeeded in improving its desktop OS dramatically. Microsoft Windows 7 will also bring numerous further improvements, including DirectX 11 application programming interface, as well as support for touch-based input.

The estimated retail prices for full packaged retail product of Windows 7 in the U.S. are:

• Windows 7 Home Premium (Full): $199.99
• Windows 7 Professional (Full): $299.99
• Windows 7 Ultimate (Full): $319.99

In addition, Microsoft will offer people in select markets the opportunity to pre-order Windows 7 at a more than 50% discount. In the U.S., this will mean users can pre-order Windows 7 Home Premium for $49.99 or Windows 7 Professional for $99.99.

Tags: Microsoft, Windows