Life after Windows XP Embedded. A successor for the Business and Developer product and even a service pack 3? In an article discussing the Windows XP Embedded Lyfecycle Support, the Windows XPe Team revealed that Microsoft is planning a successor for the product in 2008. The Redmond Company failed to deliver additional details; there isn't even a codename associated with the replacement of Windows XP Embedded, and certainly not an official release date. Just a year: 2008.

"Microsoft is committed to the Embedded space and we are committed to have a successor to XPe. We do not know exactly what it will be and we are tentatively targeting a release for the end of 2008," informed the Windows XP Embedded Team.

But as it has often been the case with Microsoft, a release date may or may not be met. In the eventuality that the successor to Windows XP Embedded will be released in 2008, support for Windows XP SP2 will be retired by the beginning of 2010.

Additionally, also related to the Windows XPe Lyfecycle support, Microsoft has revealed a potential service pack 3 also due in 2008. Currently, Microsoft has released Feature Pack 2007, a supplement to Windows XP Embedded SP2.