Microsoft will launch Windows Server 2008 on 27 February, together with Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008.

The February release for Server 2008, formerly codenamed Longhorn, was no surprise as Microsoft had previously said it would release the program to manufacturing in the fourth quarter. Commercial availability of disk media usually follows within a couple of months, and with late December and early January generally considered bad launch dates, February always looked a likely candidate.

While some experts considered Vista to have been completed in haste, the wait for Windows Server 2008 will result in a stable release, according to many observers. Late last month, Microsoft issued a Community Technology Preview version of the latest Beta 3 that added the ability to install the ISS 7.0 web server under the Server Core feature that lets deployment routines be stripped down to a bare minimum for specific roles.

Richard Hall, chief technology officer at services firm Avanade, described the feature as “the massive thing in Longhorn … it gives you so much more control and fewer reasons to touch the box. The threat vector is reduced and you can’t subvert it or pervert it.”

Microsoft will position the three releases as a platform for virtualisation, business intelligence and web-based applications, or “software plus services”.

In the first of those categories, Microsoft took the challenge to Salesforce.com by announcing low US pricing for its Dynamics Live CRM service that appears to undercut the on-demand leader. An early-access programme will allow some free use this year with a full-blown commercial release due next year in the US. UK availability is yet to be determined.

At Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference, chief executive Steve Ballmer said, “Everyone in our industry is rethinking the relationship between software and services. We believe the future is in software plus services — combinations that give customers more options and create great new opportunities for partners. Microsoft, with our partners, is positioned to lead the way.”

Some watchers believe that its dependence on partners will be Microsoft’s weakness in the space but Avanade’s Hall said Microsoft will offer a true mix of deployment options.

“Steve Ballmer has publicised a range of Microsoft 'software plus services' offerings, delivering richer user experience and a choice of server platforms – whether installed at the customer, hosted by a partner or run as a service by Microsoft,” Hall said. “In particular, the 'Titan' custom development model for CRM will allow rich additions to functionality and workflow to be deployed easily and safely, whether on an installed version of CRM or running in the cloud.”

Microsoft is not commenting on reports suggesting a beta release of Vista Service Pack 1 will go out to customers this week. The full release, mostly composed of fixes and patches, could go out late this year, at about the same time Server 2008 is released to manufacturing.