Windows XP available until 2010 to select markets

MANILA, Philippines - Licenses of some versions of Microsoft’s Windows XP will still be available to select market segments up to 2010 although it has been announced that sales in the United States already stopped effective this week. Microsoft Philippines Communications Manager Mae Rivera-Moreno told GMANews.TV that the Windows XP Starter will be available for emerging markets such as the Philippines up to June 30, 2010 for ultra-low-cost personal computer (ULPCs) which have lately become popular in the country. Rivera said the Starter edition is suited for ULPCs which are targeted for first-time users or as a second PC. ULPCs or netbooks are stripped down portable computers, thus, they are priced lower than other full-blown laptops. There are quite a number of popular brands selling in the country, such as Asus Eee PC, Red Fox and the MSI Wind. Most of these come with a Linux OS but some carry licensed versions of the Microsoft OS. The seven-year-old operating system of Microsoft will also be available through smaller shops of system builders, or white box assemblers who can configure PCs according to customers’ specifications. “Windows XP may also be obtained by PC manufacturers through the Microsoft Authorized Distribution channel (i.e. Systems Builders) through January 31, 2009. These PC manufacturers have the ability to fulfill customer requests for pre-installing Windows XP on new PCs," said Rivera. White boxes or non-branded PCs are relatively cheaper than branded PCs because users are free to choose the components that will go inside the box. Rivera added that although sales have reportedly stopped in the US, XP licenses will still be available in local shelves “until supply lasts." However, she cannot say for certain up to when this will be since Microsoft Philippines does not know the inventory kept by their resellers. Microsoft Philippines also clarified that technical support will still be generally available through 2014 even after the next Windows version, Windows 7, is released sometime in 2009. But Microsoft said it is not forcing its customers to use the new Windows Vista operating system despite criticisms from such users groups. Microsoft said those who buy certain versions of Windows Vista can avail of “downgrade rights" to the XP version. Rivera said this strategy is not intended to boost the sales of Vista but is part of the software giant's lifecycle policy. The policy, which took effect in October 2002, offers a minimum of 10 years of support—five years for mainstream support and another five years for extended support. - GMANews.TV