Microsoft revealed today it is changing the release schedule for its desktop operating system and productivity suite, along with with its system management software. Instead of a when its ready approach, Microsoft will release new versions of Windows 10 and Office 365 in March and September each year. The Windows 10 Creators Update released last month is the first to be part of the new schedule. Redstone 3, currently in development, will be released in September 2017. The schedule is slightly similar to Canonicals Ubuntu Linux, which are released twice per year, April and October. The schedule promises to make it easier for businesses to embrace the release cadence and provide a predictable and manageable path to new upgrades.

Quote

 

Based on this feedback, I am excited to share today that we are aligning the servicing models for Windows 10, Office 365 ProPlus and System Center Configuration Manager for our customers, particularly those with Secure Productive Enterprise.

Here are more details.

• Windows is committing to a predictable twice-per-year feature release schedule, targeting September and March of each year, aligning with Office 365 ProPlus. The next Windows 10 feature update will be targeted for September 2017.
• Each Windows 10 feature release will be serviced and supported for 18 months. This is consistent with our current Windows 10 approach, but adds further clarity and predictability to organizations by aligning with Office 365 ProPlus.
• In addition, System Center Configuration Manager will support this new aligned update model for Office 365 ProPlus and Windows 10, making both easier to deploy and keep up to date. Source

 

The release primarily is geared towards Microsoft's enterprise customers, but it will also apply to regular consumers and small business users. I appreciate the clarity on support for each feature release, now defined as 18 months.