Microsoft has told its system builder partners that they will be allowed to continue to sell XP after the January 31, 2009 cut-off date.
January 31 was listed as the last day that anyone could buy XP and Microsoft wanted system builders only to sell its Vista product after that date.
Now, according to ChannelWeb, Microsoft is allowing them to obtain XP licenses through distribution after the deadline.
In what Microsoft is calling its "flexible inventory programme" distributors can place their "last orders" for Windows XP OEM licenses by January 31, 2009, and take delivery against those orders through May 30.
Until then distributors would have to buy as many XP licenses as they could afford before January 31st, 2009, and sell them after the deadline.
Distributors have two weeks to send Microsoft their forecasts and book their software.
Apparently distributors are really happy with the new arrangement as they don't have to hand over cash for the new licences until they have already sold them.
The move will soften the January 31st deadline somewhat. But it appears that Redmond is going to stick to its guns and demand that as the final cut-off date.