Launch of the next version of the server OS, along with Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008, will take place next year, Microsoft has said

Confirming what many had expected, Microsoft announced on Tuesday that the next version of its server operating system, Windows Server 2008, won't formally launch until next year.

Microsoft said it will launch the product, which it has previously said would be finalised before the end of the year, at an event in Los Angeles on 27 February. The company will also launch Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008 at the same event. The company made the announcement at its Worldwide Partner Conference in Denver.

The new operating system, formerly code-named "Longhorn", includes the PowerShell scripting language, role-based deployment options and network access protection features.

A Microsoft representative also said on Tuesday that the code for Windows Server 2008 is still set to be finished by the end of the year.

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