In a keynote at the Worldwide Partner Conference, Microsoft COO Kevin Turner revealed that Microsoft will launch Windows Server 2008 (formerly code-named Longhorn), Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008 in Los Angeles next Feb. 27. As is customary when Microsoft rolls out major products, the event will be the first in a wave of launch events across the world.

The time frame may seem a bit off for customers expecting Windows Server 2008 to be available before the end of 2007, which is the current plan. According to Microsoft, there will be no change to this schedule, though the formal product launch won't come until next year.