Microsoft-Windows-Phone-7-Series-AsusWindows Phone 7 has been officially released to manufacturing. That means the final version of code has been officially sent to manufacturers to make their devices ready to be shipped later this year.

Some last minute changes as reported by Neowin are:

  • Facebook contacts filtering in the People hub
  • Facebook "Like" capability from the People hub
  • Various user interface updates, including a new Search button in the contacts list.

    • Terry Myerson, Microsoft's Corporate Vice President of Windows Phone engineering said on Windows Phone blog:

    "This has been one of the most incredible product development efforts I’ve ever been a part of. Today’s milestone is exciting not just because of what we’ll deliver to customers later this year, but how it sets us up for success over the long term in the mobile space… we’re really just getting started."

    He also said:

    “Windows Phone 7 is the most thoroughly tested mobile platform Microsoft has ever released.  We had nearly ten thousand devices running automated tests daily, over a half million hours of active self-hosting use, over three and a half million hours of stress test passes, and eight and a half million hours of fully automated test passes.  We’ve had thousands of independent software vendors and early adopters testing our software and giving us great feedback. We are ready.”

    Windows Phone 7 devices are expected to be released in the month of October this year in Europe.

    [via Neowin, Windows Phone Blog]