The release of SP2 in August 2004 helped Windows XP gain popularity as a desktop operating system. An unexpected increase in demand by system builders to meet customer demand introduced SP2c and has prompted Microsoft to state  “Microsoft will be releasing Windows XP SP3 to customers and partners in the next few weeks and is targeting the first half of 2008 for an RTM release.”

Microsoft said SP3 will include previously released updates and fixes, as well as “a small number of new updates,” and that the updates “should not significantly change the Windows XP experience.”

Microsoft’s mainstream support for XP is scheduled to expire in April 2009, with extended support running out in April 2014.

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