Microsoft hits home stretch for XP Service Pack 2

Company originally wanted to hit RTM this week, but work still needed to be done

By Joris Evers, IDG News Service

Microsoft Corp. expects to finalize work on Service Pack 2 for Windows XP in the coming days. The much-anticipated security focused update should be available to users shortly after that, a company spokesman said Thursday.

Microsoft had hoped to wrap up work on Service Pack 2 (SP2) this week. The software maker planned to announce release to manufacturing, or RTM, of the code late Wednesday. However, the plans changed to ensure that the software meets quality standards.

“There had been a target date to RTM earlier this week, but when the time came Microsoft decided that there was still work that needed to be done for SP2 to meet the quality standards its customers demand,” the spokesman said.

The pushing back of the RTM announcement turned into a public relations snafu for Microsoft. Apparently unaware of the change of plans, Microsoft Australia on Wednesday issued a statement announcing RTM. The statement was later retracted, with company officials saying the announcement was premature.

News Source : infoworld