What is the release date for the Microsoft Courier?

Sources have said the company would like to see the device hit shelves by mid-2010. Courier is rumored to be an incubation project within Microsoft, not yet in the production stages.

Microsoft is expected to speed up the production process by manufacturing Courier hardware itself. The company did the same thing to bring Xbox to market, a product which was also developed in the Entertainment and Devices division.

Apple is rumored to be releasing its own touch tablet in mid-2010. Check back for updates.

UPDATE: Apple will release the iPad on April 3, 2010.

UPDATE: Engadget reports that Microsoft intends to launch the Courier sometime in the second half of 2010.

UPDATE: Engadget reports that Microsoft has killed the Courier project.