Microsoft has announced that its much awaited Windows 7 Mobile software is ready for use by mobile phone manufacturers.

RTM or Release To Manufacturing, allows Microsoft’s partners to start altering and tweaking the software to suit the requirements of the particular handset. However this doesn’t mean that handsets using the operating system will be available immediately.

Speaking with the Daily Telegraph, Jonathan Leggett of Top10.com said: “The extensive testing bodes well for Windows Phone 7. But we won’t know what it’s really like until it’s out in the wild.”

There have been previews of the software and all seems to have been going well for Microsoft. In fact, Terry Myerson, corporate vice president of Windows Phone engineering at Microsoft wrote a blog post stating: “Windows Phone 7 had up until now existed in technical preview form and remained in testing for an extensive period of time.”

He added: “The operating system has undergone the most complex testing the company has ever carried out, with nearly 10,000 devices running automated tests every day.”

Previous versions of the mobile phone operating system produced by the computer giant have been criticised as being slow and clunky. But it appears Microsoft have got round this problem.

Whether it will topple Android off its top perch is another matter. Jonathan Leggett suggests it might. He said: “As it stands iOS and Android can’t hold a candle to Windows Phone 7.”

Apple however might just see things differently.