Microsoft is planning to "service" its 2002 and 2003 versions of the .Net Framework and Visual Studio tool suite in order to insure they will work properly with Windows XP Service Pack (SP) 2.

But versions of the .Net Framework and Visual Studio suite that predate 2002 won't be upgraded, a company spokesman said, as they lack a number of security enhancements needed by SP2.

Microsoft will work to ensure that these tools continue to function correctly on XP SP2, however the tools may not benefit from enhanced XP SP2 security," the company warned.

Windows XP SP2 is due out some time in mid-2004, Microsoft has said. The service pack currently is in beta test. SP2 will include, in addition to the normal bug fixes, a number of new security-enhancing features, including additional memory protection, an updated firewall and better e-mail and browsing controls.

Microsoft plans to roll out service packs for the 1.0.3 and 1.1.4 versions of the .Net Framework, if needed, around the same time that XP SP2 is released to manufacturing, according to the company. "Visual Studio will be serviced on its normal servicing schedule," according to a statement on Microsoft's Web site.

"The .NET Framework 'Whidbey' is being designed to become the security role model for products used by the developer, according to a Microsoft statement posted to the company's Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web site. "All products from Visual Studio 'Whidbey' onward will be designed to work well on XP SP2 and enable developers to take full advantage of the security enhancements, both in their own applications and for their own machines when using Visual Studio," according to the Microsoft statement.

Whidbey is the next version of Microsoft's tool suite. The company has said it will ship by the end of 2004.

In related news, Microsoft rolled out a new, online training course for XP SP2 developers