Windows 8 could be set for 2012 release

Blog post on Dutch Microsoft site suggests launch date for Windows 7 replacement could be sooner rather than later

Open Windows: the next version of Microsoft's operating system could launch in 2012

Speculation over when the successor to Microsoft’s 240 million-selling Windows 7 will hit the shelves has been fuelled by a post on the software giant’s Dutch website.

The post appeared last Friday and confirmed that Windows 8 is currently in development and could launch as early as 2012.

It stated: "Microsoft is on course for the next version of Windows. But it will take about two years before 'Windows 8' [is] on the market."

The comment was included in a post commemorating the first birthday of Windows 7 and has since been removed from the site.

Microsoft has declined to comment further on the post or any future launch date for Windows 8.