Redmond, WA - Jul 14, 2010 - Several reports have made their way to Radio magazine saying that Windows XP is getting an extension for its lifespan. Microsoft originally announced that new owners of Windows 7 who wanted to downgrade to XP would have until 2011 to make the switch. But that decision has been changed, and Microsoft will extend support for XP until 2020.

Windows XP was released in 2001. A Microsoft blog post says that businesses can continue to purchase new PCs and utilize end user downgrade rights to Windows XP or Windows Vista until they are ready to use Windows 7.

Published statistics show that 74 percent of businesses still use Windows XP. The cost to upgrade isn't feasible, or the companies are satisfied with the performance of XP and the programs that run on it.

The XP support is being offered for XP SP3. Support of XP SP2 ended in July 2010.