Microsoft extends XP sales by five months

Microsoft has declared that it will allow XP to be sold on PCs for a further five months than the intended year until June 30th 2008 – a move which has been warmly received by retailers.

There will also be an extension on boxed copies of XP, which will now remain on shelves for the foreseeable future. Additionally, emerging economies will be allowed to build machines with XP until 2010.

Speaking about the decision, Kevin Kutz, a director in Microsoft’s Windows Client unit said: "We wouldn’t term it (XP demand) strong. We would describe this as accommodating a certain element who needs more time."