Microsoft struggling to complete Windows Phone 8 development on schedule?

Windows Phone 8Microsoft and its partners are working overtime to ensure that Windows Phone 8 device launch in early November. The Verge has learned that Microsoft has yet to complete Windows Phone 8. According to its sources, Microsoft had planned to launch Windows Phone 8 in early October, ahead of Windows 8. Instead, delays and bugs have now pushed the release beyond that of the PC operating system. As per earlier rumours, Microsoft is now aiming for an October 29th software launch with devices to follow in November.

To ensure that devices ship in time for the critical holiday season, Microsoft is apparently working with carriers to ship devices without additional customizations to reduce testing times as much as possible.

The report adds that HTC in particular is struggling to complete testing of at least one of its three expected Windows Phone 8 devices. This could explain why it has chosen announce its Windows Phone 8 later than Samsung and Nokia.

This would also explain why Samsung and Nokia have not been able to provide availability details for their devices. While Microsoft expects to hit its Release to Manufacturing (RTM) milestone this week, any delay could affect both the software announcement and device launch dates.

Read more: The Verge