In a post to Microsoft's TechNet Forum, Microsoft's XP SP3 release manager Chris Keroack announced that Service Pack 3 of Windows XP has released to its manufacturing channels, in order to reach OEM and enterprise customers by the late-April deadline.

The key features of Service Pack 3 include Microsoft's updated Management Console 3.0, which appears in Windows Server 2008 and Vista; the new Windows Installer 3.1; an update to Wi-Fi protected access; and support for Network Access Protection, the "health checking" component used by Windows Server 2008. With that latter component, a network server can check to make sure certain upgrades and security features are in place for XP-based clients as well as Vista-based, before those clients can be allowed to log onto the network.

A complete list of XP SP3 features appears in this document from Microsoft.