In a blog post updated Thursday, Malaysia-based Tech ARP claims that Microsoft will release IE8 to manufacturing the week of March 16, and will offer IE8 to OEMs as an optional supplement to all Windows XP and Windows Vista operating system products licensed in the OEM channels.

Microsoft showed off a test build of IE8 at its MIX08 conference last March, so it's possible the software giant could be planning to unveil the final IE8 at MIX09, which will be held from March 18 to 20 in Las Vegas.

Microsoft launched an IE8 Release Candidate in January and said earlier issues with reliability, performance and compatibility had been ironed out.

"The IE8 product is effectively complete and done," Internet Explorer General Manager Dean Hachamovitch said in a January blog post announcing the IE8 Release Candidate.

In February, Microsoft issued a patch for IE8 in the Windows 7 Beta that plugged several compatibility and reliability holes.