Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 3 Standalone Installer Download Live from April 29 [XP SP3 Auto Update Due Summer]

Microsoft has confirmed that Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) will be
released for download in standalone installer form from 29 April with
the service pack being added to MS's automatic updates sometime in the
early summer.

In a post on Microsoft's forums SP3's release manager, Chris Keroack,
confirmed the availability of third service pack installment for XP as
follows:

Today we are happy to announce that Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) has
released to manufacturing (RTM). Windows XP SP3 bits are now working
their way through our manufacturing channels to be available to OEM and
Enterprise customers. We are also in the final stages of preparing for
release to the web (i.e. you!) on April 29th, via Windows Update and the
Microsoft Download Center. Online documentation for Windows XP SP3, such
as Microsoft Knowledge Base articles and the Microsoft TechNet Windows
XP TechCenter, will be updated then. For customers who use Windows XP at
home, Windows XP SP3 Automatic Update distribution for users at home
will begin in early summer. Thanks to everyone here who installed the
public betas - you not only gave us detailed feedback but also helped
each other out with timely troubleshooting. Through the beta program we
found several important issues and were able to confirm some essential
fixes. We couldn’t have done this without you. We will still be
monitoring this forum during the next few weeks in case you have more
feedback about the release of Windows XP SP3.

SP3 will include all security updates and hot fixes previously made
available as well as a series of new updates not least of which is the
inclusion of Network Access Protection (NAP) to 'help organizations that
use Windows XP to take advantage of new features in the Windows Server
2008 operating system' as well as improvements in black hole router
detection which will be enabled by default but, interestingly, Internet
Explorer 7 will not be included.

Thanks Phil, Sean, and everyone else who tipped us on this.