Microsoft has sent a letter to customers saying it will extend critical support for Windows XP until 2014, three years longer than is usual.

The company also pledged its new operating system, Windows 7, will be available by 2010. In the meantime OEMs will be able to supply systems with Windows XP preloaded as a ‘downgrade’ until January 31, 2009.

Given that Microsoft traditionally supports operating systems for only ten years after their launch this move can be seen as an admission that it is not expecting some businesses to bother upgrading to Vista.

“Windows Vista is a very significant step forward, but our customers have made it clear to us that they want broader support for devices and applications in order to enjoy the overall experience,” the letter from Bill Veghte, Microsoft’s senior vice president of Windows Business Group reads.

“During the last year, we have worked diligently with our hardware and software partners to improve compatibility to remove the barriers that prevent users from taking advantage of the important advancements Windows Vista delivers. It has been a year of exciting and critical progress.”

The letter also promises the Windows 7 will be released “approximately 3 years after the January 2007” release date for Vista. Veghte acknowledges there have been compatibility problems between Vista and peripherals manufacturers and promises lessons have been learned.

“You’ve also let us know you don’t want to face the kinds of incompatibility challenges with the next version of Windows you might have experienced early with Windows Vista,” he says.

“As a result, our approach with Windows 7 is to build off the same core architecture as Windows Vista so the investments you and our partners have made in Windows Vista will continue to pay off with Windows 7. Our goal is to ensure the migration process from Windows Vista to Windows 7 is straightforward.”

Source: Vnunet