14 DAY TRIAL // There has been a lot of talk lately associated with the availability of the third service pack for Windows XP. Windows XP SP3 has had an interesting history that began in 2005. The fact of the matter is that Microsoft initially planned to make Windows XP Service Pack 3 available in 2005. But the SP slipped in 2006 and then in 2007. Last year, while it was frenetically laboring to finalize Windows Vista, Microsoft pushed XP SP3 all the way into 2008.
This has prompted claims that Microsoft will cancel the service pack altogether. But is there any truth to these claims? Has Microsoft actually abandoned SP3 and Windows XP altogether? Well, as strange as this might sound, yes and no.
Yes, Microsoft did abandon the release of Windows XP Service Pack 3. The evolution of the third service pack for XP clearly points in that direction. From 2005 to 2006, to 2007, to 2008 to... There are two possibilities at this juncture. One is that Microsoft will further delay Windows XP SP3, a practice that threatens to transform into a tradition or that the Redmond Company will actually acknowledge the cancellation of the service pack. With Windows Vista widely available, Microsoft has to let Windows XP expire. While the company is not prepared to take an active step in this direction, the passive approach will get things done just as well.
Microsoft's position on Windows XP SP3 is clear, and published on the Windows Service Pack Road Map. "SP3 for Windows XP Home Edition is currently planned for 1H CY2008. This date is preliminary. SP3 for Windows XP Professional is currently planned for 1H CY2008. This date is preliminary," reads Microsoft's information on XP's next update and its estimated date of availability.
Please do note the "this date is preliminary" reference. With these four words, Microsoft has left its possibilities open. And the Windows XP gambit is the most obvious one. As I have said, Microsoft has not officially canceled XP SP3. The Windows SP road map comes to confirm that; but in the remote eventuality that Microsoft does provide a XP SP3, the release will not be a repeat of SP2, it will be just an average bundle of security updates and hotfixes.