Last week, Microsoft confirmed the date we had heard rumored for the official Windows Phone launch event, set to occur on October 29. Everything we’ve heard seems to indicate that the retail availability of WP8 hardware will follow almost immediately (or at least within the subsequent few days), but does that mean you’ll have to wait until nearly Halloween to make your claim on a new WP8 handset? Perhaps not, as a new rumor out claims that pre-orders for such models will be opening over a week prior to the launch event, on October 21.

At least, that’s when AT&T is planning to open pre-orders, according to a source of The Verge. While other carriers could differ in their plans, expect them all to be operating on the same general timetable. We’re still waiting for clarification on exactly when customers can hope to receive their orders, but it’s almost certainly in very early November.

In addition to WP8 pre-orders, Windows 8 gear should be available for pre-order on October 21, as well, but with an earlier platform launch, that hardware will be hitting customers hands as soon as October 26.

Source: The Verge