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Confirming last week's leaked launch dates, Microsoft will release the Service Pack to the public next week, on 29 April. It will then be rolled out via Microsoft's Automatic Update system "in early summer".

Click here to discover why Steve Ballmer is dithering on the XP deadline

Microsoft is desperately trying to play down the benefits of XP SP3, as it attempts to migrate more users to Vista.

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The company's low-key press statement on the release of SP3 virtually damns the update with faint praise. "Windows XP SP3 includes all previously released updates for the operating system, as well as a small number of new additions that should not significantly change the Windows XP experience," it reads.

Indeed, it even goes on to explain the benefits for customers who've already rolled out Vista. "For customers deploying Windows Vista, enhancements to Windows XP SP3 (such as Network Access Protection or NAP) will make it easier to co-manage Windows XP and Windows Vista within the same corporate environment."

The final XP Service Pack arrives just as Microsoft is preparing to withdraw the operating system from sale at the end of June.

Given the proximity to the cut-off deadline, it seems unlikely that Microsoft will refresh its retail packages with Service Pack 3, although Microsoft was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.

Click here for Microsoft's overview of what's included in XP SP3.