The third service pack for Microsoft XML Core Services (MSXML) version 4.0 is slated for availability soon, according to Microsoft. The Redmond company is getting ready to replace MSXML 4.0 SP2, SP1 and RTM with Service Pack 3, but until now no actual availability deadline has been provided. Microsoft has only pointed to the immediate future for the delivery of the first taste of MSXML 4.0 SP3.

“MSXML 4 SP3 is applicable to the following Windows Operation Systems: Windows 2000 SP4; Windows XP SP2; Windows XP SP3; Windows Server 2003 SP1; Windows Server 2003 SP2; Windows Vista RTM; Windows Vista SP1; and Windows 2008,” revealed a representative of the MSXML Team.

Microsoft plans to make a Beta version of MSXML 4.0 SP3 available for download via the Download Center. According to the company, SP3 will subsequently be released to manufacturing in the next few months. No specific date has yet been offered.

“The MSXML Team is getting ready to release the MSXML 4.0 Service Pack 3 Beta very soon! MSXML4 SP3 is a complete replacement of previous MSXML 4.0 service packs. The new service pack includes: a number of security bug fixes and reliability improvements,” the MSXML Team member added. The company offered no additional details related to what MSXML 4.0 SP3 would bring to the table. Of course, developers are able to look beyond MSXML 4.0, to version 6.0.

Microsoft XML Core Services is designed to streamline the development of XML-based applications via JScript, Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript), and Visual Studio. Microsoft is currently offering developers MSCML 4.0 SP2 and MSXML 6.0. However, it will only be with Service Pack 3 of the Microsoft XML Core Services that the company will introduce support for Windows XP Service Pack 3, Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008.

Microsoft Core XML Services 6.0 is available for download here.