XP SP3 for release next week?

Microsoft's Service Pack 3 update for Windows XP is set for delivery sometime in the next few weeks, but the company is still declining to name an official release date.

XP SP3 is the next major update for Microsoft's mainstream desktop platform and will roll-up all updates issued since SP2 was released in August 2004, including security patches and hotfixes. It will not include significant new functionality, but will add Vista's Network Access Protection (NAP) to help organisations take advantage of new features in Windows Server 2008.

Several online news sites have reported that SP3 may be released to volume customers and MSDN and TechNet subscribers as early as Monday 21 April, with general availability on Windows Update the following week.

However, a Microsoft spokesperson would only re-iterate the company's official line on SP3, that it will be available in the first half of 2008, provided it meets the company's quality bar for release.

See also:

Microsoft plots embedded future

Windows for sat-nav on the horizon  15 Apr 2008

Enterprise Windows use declined in 2007

Windows enterprise desktop dominance slowly eroded  01 Apr 2008

Microsoft to help devices get connected

Releases new version of .Net Micro Framework  26 Feb 2008

New Windows in 3 years

Next version of the ubiquitous desktop OS will be a full-scale upgrade  30 Jul 2007

Microsoft ships 60 million Vista units

Total Windows installations expected to pass the one billion mark within the next 12 months  27 Jul 2007

Vista migrations 'may take up to three years'

Dell has warned that a migration to the new Vista may not be as easy as it seems  02 Jul 2007

Like this story? Spread the news by clicking below:

 del.icio.us     Digg this     reddit!