Consumer XP Support Extended

Windows XP Home and Media Center Edition, the two main consumer versions of Windows XP, will have an Extended support phase after their Mainstream support phase ends. The change brings consumer versions of the OS closer to the life cycle employed for business versions, and it could also provide Microsoft with a revenue stream from ongoing consumer support, for which the company has raised most prices, in some cases more than doubling them.

Life-Cycle Phases

Microsoft’s support life cycle for business and development products has three phases: Mainstream, Extended, and Custom. During Mainstream support, which lasts five years, all security and bug fixes are available for free, and service packs and rollups may be available for the product. Extended support, until now available only for business and development products, also lasts five years, during which security fixes are free, but bug fixes require an Extended Hotfix Support Agreement with Microsoft. Other forms of support, such as troubleshooting, are available on a per-fee basis. The final phase, Custom support, is offered for only selected products, requires special contracts, and has no fixed termination date.