http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/...in592839.shtml

Windows 98 Gets A Reprieve

REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 13, 2003

About 20 percent of all Windows-based computers still run Windows 95 or 98.
Support for Windows 98 and Windows 98 S.E. was going to expire Friday, and
Windows Millennium Edition would have lost support on Dec. 31.

(AP) Microsoft reversed a decision to stop support for some older Windows
operating systems, saying Monday some customers in developing countries were
not aware of the change.

Support for Windows 98 and Windows 98 S.E. had been scheduled to expire
Friday, and for Windows Millennium Edition on Dec. 31. Under Monday's
decision, the software giant would maintain paid phone support for the
operating systems and review security threats to determine whether it will
provide customers with security patches through June 30, 2006.

"While we've done an excellent job communicating our life cycle policy for
most of our products, we have found that we could use more time to
communicate those guidelines in a handful of smaller markets," including
Kazakhstan, the Ivory Coast and Slovenia, Microsoft spokesman Matt Pilla
said.

About 20 percent of all Windows-based computers still run Windows 95 or 98,
according to International Data Corp., a technology market research firm.
Support for Windows 95 ended in 2001.

Since Oct. 15, 2002, Microsoft has offered seven years of support for its
new products. Before that, it offered four.



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