According to “senior figures” within the industry, Microsoft will launch its Windows Phone 7 on October 11th, 2010.

Pocket-lint is reporting that the company has selected New York as the global stage for the launch, which will be beamed around the world.

Microsoft has yet to officially announce a launch date, but it can't be far away.

Two weeks ago Microsoft announced that the internal team had hit the release to manufacturing (RTM) milestone for Windows Phone 7. It will also be Microsoft's most thoroughly tested mobile platform ever released.

“We had nearly ten thousand devices running automated tests daily, over a half million hours of active self-hosting use, over three and a half million hours of stress test passes, and eight and a half million hours of fully automated test passes,” said Terry Myerson, Corporate Vice President of Windows Phone Engineering. “We've had thousands of independent software vendors and early adopters testing our software and giving us great feedback. We are ready.

Update: Microsoft came back to us with, "Can't confirm that date but Windows 7 Phone will be in the NZ market in time for Christmas."

Update 2: Microsoft has held a mock funeral for iPhone with a performance of Thriller. Yes, you did read that right.