In a bid to get Windows Mobile 7 devices on ;market as quickly as possible, Microsoft early next year’ll give mobile device OEMs a test build of forthcoming operating system. The program, code-named 'Maldives,' looks like an effort to shrink window between Microsoft's release to manufacturing of Windows Mobile and when it arrives on new devices. In case of Windows Mobile 6.5, Microsoft released it in May but devices didn't arrive until October. Windows Mobile 7's formal launch’s slated for third quarter of 2010, according to report. There’ve been plenty of rumors about Windows Mobile 7 launching sometime next spring, but this latest one suggests that Microsoft knows it's far behind in mobile space and is trying to speed things up. Microsoft executives haven't said much about Windows Mobile 7 aside from suggesting that it’ll put Microsoft back into smartphone race.

[Source]