Business and Developer products
Microsoft will offer a minimum of 10 years of support for Business and
Developer products. Mainstream Support for Business and Developer products
will be provided for 5 years or for 2 years after the successor product
(N+1) is released, whichever is longer. Microsoft will also provide
Extended Support for the 5 years following Mainstream support or for 2
years after the second successor product (N+2) is released, whichever is
longer. Finally, most Business and Developer products will receive at
least 10 years of online self-help support.
Consumer, Hardware, and Multimedia products
Microsoft will offer Mainstream Support for either a minimum of 5 years
from the date of a product’s general availability, or for 2 years after
the successor product (N+1) is released, whichever is longer. Extended
Support is not offered for Consumer, Hardware, and Multimedia products.
Products that release new versions annually, such as Microsoft Money,
Microsoft Encarta, Microsoft Picture It!, and Microsoft Streets & Trips,
will receive a minimum of 3 years of Mainstream Support from the product's
date of availability. Most products will also receive at least 8 years of
online self-help support. Microsoft Xbox games are currently not included
in the Support Lifecycle policy.
[end quote]
Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifepolicy
Windows XP Professional Support Lifecycle
http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3223
Windows XP Home Edition Support Lifecycle
http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3221
John