Redmond (WA) - Microsoft has announced it will continue to sell Windows XP for five months longer than it originally expected, because of customer feedback.

The software giant will extend availability of its previous-generation operation system to June 30, 2008. It previously had planned to be 100% transitioned to Vista in the US by the beginning of next year.

"There are some customers who need a little more time to make the switch to Windows Vista," said Microsoft corporate VP Mike Nash.

Customers are also leery because of the high technical requirements to run Vista smoothly. Many software applications, especially ones made by lower-profile companies, are also not yet fully compatible with Vista.

Microsoft has also been providing Vista-to-XP downgrade discs to PC manufacturers for consumers who buy computers with premium versions of Vista pre-installed.

The company also announced that it will extend the availability of its XP Starter Edition to emerging markets to June 30, 2010, an extension parallel to that of the US version.