Microsoft Surface Tablet Release Date Coincides With Windows 8 Launch: New Mobile Devices To Come In October

In its annual report, Microsoft had said the Surface's debut would coincide with that of its next-generation software. When the Redmond, Wash.-based company unveiled its first self-branded tablet in June, it said a release date would come in the fall. And now the date for Windows 8 has been confirmed.

"The next version of our operating system, Windows 8, will be generally available on Oct. 26, 2012," Microsoft said in its latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. "At that time, we will begin selling the Surface, a series of Microsoft-designed and manufactured hardware devices."

AllThingsD was the first to spot the release date Monday.

Samsung also revealed Monday that its two Windows Phone 8 mobile devices will be called Odyssey and Marco. The Korean electronics manufacturer unveiled some of the tech specs behind the Windows Phone 8, including the Qualcomm chipset that will be included in the handset. The information was revealed in court as part of the Apple vs. Samsung trial.

Microsoft may have clued in its fan base as to when the tablet will launch, but no price has been revealed. The company said only that the Surface will be priced comparably to other products on the market.

Earlier in July a Swedish website listed the ARM-powered Surface tablet for $1,003. The Surface Pro, which is a higher end version of the device containing 128GB of disk space, was reportedly listed for a steep $2,152.

However, there was no validity behind these claims, as a Microsoft spokesperson told Mashable that a price has not been set yet.

"Suggested retail pricing will be announced closer to availability and is expected to be competitive with a comparable ARM tablet or Intel Ultrabook-class PC. OEMs will have cost and feature parity on Windows 8 and Windows RT," the spokesperson said.

The longtime software titan has been prepping for these releases with various accessories this week. Microsoft has introduced three new mice and two mobile keyboards catering to its Windows 8 platform. The Wedge Touch Mouse enables four-way touch scrolling and navigation, and will be priced at $69.95. This wirelessly connects to tablet or laptop through Bluetooth technology.

The Wedge Mobile Keyboard is a full-sized keyboard complete with hot keys and media keys. It is designed specifically for tablets and runs on AAA batteries, according to eWeek.

The Surface tablet is a clear attempt for Microsoft to stake a claim in the field against competitors such as Apple and Google. But will the Surface harm the company more than it will help it?

In a document that Microsoft submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission, it acknowledged that there could be a potential risk for business partners.

"Our Surface devices will compete with products made by our OEM partners, which may affect their commitment to our platform," Microsoft said in the 10-K document filed for the second quarter of 2012, according to Computer World.

It is unclear how the Surface tablet will fare in the market, but in a presentation earlier this month, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said the company "may sell a few million" tablets, but did not specify any time frame.