Microsoft's Service Pack 2 for Windows XP delayed until August

Microsoft said yesterday that the second service pack for Windows XP will be released one month later than expected. So the launch of SP2 for Windows XP is now planned in August.

It will contain some new features, mainly dealing with security.

This is the second time that Microsoft has delayed SP2, which was originally expected in June. Earlier this year, Microsoft said that the update would be delayed until July.

The company gave no reasons for new delay. Last month, a number of Windows enthusiast Web sites reported that Microsoft had run into compatibility problems between SP2 and other software.

Work on this Service Pack used far greater resources than Microsoft had originally intended. Company executives have said that they needed to pull engineers off of Longhorn to work on this Service Pack.

Microsoft also said they have plans to begin a new service called Windows Marketplace. This service will include an online shopping and download site that will let partners buy software and hardware that works with Windows. Microsoft will work together with CNET Networks to launch the site later this year.

Source: Cnet