The
third service pack of Windows XP, which is expected to be
available for download next month, will include some of the
features now available in Windows Vista, but users will be
unable to run Internet Explorer 7.0 unless they upgrade to Windows
Vista.
Microsoft said the service pack will include Network Access
Protection (NAP), which works with Windows Server 2008 to improve
network security.
The service pack will also include functionality previously
released as updates, such as the
Microsoft
Management Console (MMC) 3.0, which is designed to simplify PC
administration, and the Microsoft Core XML Services 6.0 (MSXML6),
along with an update of Windows Product Activation.
Microsoft is also expected to include an update to its
IPsec
Simple Policy which aims to simplify the creation and
maintenance of IPsec filters, reducing the number of filters that
are required for a server and domain isolation deployment. The
Simple Policy Update removes the requirement for explicit network
infrastructure permit filters and introduces enhanced fallback to
clear behaviour, Microsoft said.
Although the update offers new functionality Microsoft said
Windows XP SP3 would not include Windows Internet Explorer 7, the
latest version.