Well, it's official. Microsoft has pushed the upgrade to Windows XP all the way back to 2008. Windows XP Service Pack 3 was initially scheduled for the second half of 2006, two years after the release of Service Pack 2. After being postponed towards the end of 2007 in January of this year, now Microsoft further delays SP3 for the first half of 2008. And Windows XP SP3 didn't go alone. It is accompanied by Windows Server 2003 SP2 pushed back into the first quarter of 2007.

This move impacts Windows XP Home Edition and Professional. On the Windows Service Pack Road Map, Microsoft writes: "SP3 for Windows XP Home Edition is currently planned for 1H CY2008. This date is preliminary. And SP3 for Windows XP Professional is currently planned for 1H CY2008. This date is preliminary."

The good news that can be extracted out of this is that - traditionally - Microsoft supports the preceding service pack from 12 to 24 months following the release of the next SP. This means that Windows XP SP2 has a good chance of making it into 2009 or even 2010. Another record for the Redmond Company, considering that SP2 came out in August 2004.

There's little chance to actually see Windows XP SP 3 released in 2008. The date is pushed back enough to be synonymous to the first steps towards a cancellation. Understandably so, considering that Microsoft won't want any competition for Vista, when it finally releases it in January 2007. Not even from itself.