Microsoft might re-think its plan to phase out
theWindows XPoperating system by 30
June.
Microsoft had already
extended the shelf-life of Windows XP by five months, after
previously planning to withdraw it this January,
to help users prepare for
Windows Vista.
The company has also said
XP will remain an option in developing markets for cheap PCs
until 2010.
Reuters reports that Microsoft CEO
Steve Ballmer said the phasing out might be changed if
customers showed
they wanted to keep buying XP, but so far they weren't, he
said.
"XP will hit an end-of-life. We have announced one. If customer
feedback varies we can always wake up smarter, but right now we
have a plan for end-of-life for new XP shipments,"
Ballmer
said.
Microsoft plans to end licensing XP on computer manufacturers'
machines by 30 June. Microsoft also plans to end retail sales on
the same date.
But Ballmer however, "In the business environment, we still have
customers who are buying PCs with XP because information technology
departments often have to work with old machines."
Microsoft is currently distributing Service Pack 1 of its
year-old
Windows Vista OS.