Microsoft needs to be more forthcoming with information on software releases so that businesses can plan IT strategies, according to analyst firm Gartner.

The software giant is looking at delivering an interim release of XP, dubbed Windows Reloaded, before the launch of Longhorn.

Gartner recommends that businesses should plan to introduce XP now, in order to protect themselves against changeable Microsoft release cycles.

The analyst also said that companies should make it clear that they need better information on when new versions of Windows are likely to ship.

Microsoft should release timelines and feature information about any interim versions of Windows, so that businesses hesitant to introduce XP can be informed, according to Gartner.

The analyst said that Microsoft should also release a statement about its support of Windows 2000 Professional, which it plans to stop selling at the end of March.

The criticism has resulted from continued delays to the shipment of Longhorn.

In 2001, Microsoft spoke about releasing the new operating system in late 2004, but then said it was likely to delay the release until the second half of 2005.

At Microsoft's developer conference in October 2003, the implication was that Longhorn would be more likely to ship in 2006, according to Gartner.

The analyst estimates that the delay may be longer, and that Longhorn will not now ship until 2007.