With Windows 7 still not available for everyone, news has surfaced that Microsoft is already researching and working on some of the architecture for Windows 8/9, which includes '128-bit architecture compatibility with the Windows 8 kernel.'

There was a time when Microsoft's focus with the Windows 7 release was to support 64-bit only. Now, that focus has been pushed forward to Windows 8. Whether or not the Windows 8 release will see support for 64-bit only is yet to be determined, but I've stumbled upon a rather eye-opening Microsoft Research project: 128-bit architecture compatibility with the Windows 8 and Windows 9 kernel.

Naturally, 128-bit is the next step up from 64-bit and though it had to happen at some point, I'm surprised to see this surface so soon (and when I say, 'surface,' I mean, 'go public'). Robert Morgan, Senior Research and Development at Microsoft, has posted the following bit of experience on his LinkedIn profile:

Experience
Senior Research & Development
Microsoft
Public Company; MSFT; Computer Software industry
January 2002 – Present (7 years 10 months)

Working in high security department for research and development involving strategic planning for medium and longterm projects. Research & Development projects including 128bit architecture compatibility with the Windows 8 kernel and Windows 9 project plan. Forming relationships with major partners: Intel, AMD, HP and IBM.