According to the Microsoft Partner Program website, Windows 7′s release candidate is due to be released to the general public on May 5th 2009. This is earlier than initial reports suggested.
We are pleased to announce that Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) is available. Windows 7 RC is the prerelease version of Windows 7. Since this is not the final release, your PC will gather and send information to Microsoft engineers to help them check the fixes and changes made based on testing of Windows 7 Beta.
Test-drive Windows 7 RC today to see for yourself—and to show your colleagues and customers—how Windows 7 delivers improved management, security, reliability, and performance.
Download Windows 7 RC
Partners: If you have a subscription to MSDN or TechNet, you can download Windows 7 RC now. Otherwise, you can download Windows 7 RC starting May 5, 2009.
Some MSDN and TechNet subscribers have reported that they can download the new Windows 7 RC build already. However, there may be a slow rollout as Ars Technica is reporting that it may not be up in all regions.
We are eagerly watching the news and we hope that this date was not posted in error.
*UPDATE*
Microsoft announced the RC will be available for download by program developers and IT professionals subscribing to the MSDN and TechNet networks on April 30 and available more broadly on May 5.