Windows is now Windows XP

NEW YORK: Software giant Microsoft Corp. is renaming its core Windows and

Office programs to show its focus on Internet-based services, the Wall Street

Journal reported in its online edition on Monday.

Future versions of the products will be named Windows XP and Office XP, with

the XP standing for experience, the paper quoted Chairman Bill Gates telling

senior staff in a memo. The name changes will be announced on Monday, with

Office XP to be released in the second quarter and Windows XP coming in the

second half of 2001, the paper said.

Windows XP will use Microsoft's NT code base, which is more reliable and

found in Windows 2000, the paper said. Office XP will have more integrated

e-mail and features allowing users to work on projects together, the Journal

reported.