Speaking of development lines, Microsoft has provided a deadline for the next version of its database, SQL Server 2008 R2.
Until recently, this led to talk that SQL Server 2008 R2 would be a first half 2010 product. However, in the new report, a specific date was given.
According to the report and a corresponding Microsoft employee blog post: "SQL Server 2008 R2 will be generally available on May 6, 2010."
SQL Server 2008 R2 is a product code-named Kilimanjaro. Microsoft released an update to a new R2 beta version earlier this month and announced that it would add a number of higher-version products to its SQL Server lineup once the final version is finalized.
May 2010 is likely to be a very busy month for Microsoft. Company executives told Microsoft partners last summer that Office 2010 would be available in May or June 2010. As a reader recently pointed out, Microsoft's Office 2010 beta download site mentions a June 2010 deadline for the next version of Office.
I believe we can definitely see office 2010 released before June.