Microsoft announced the timetable for availability of Windows XP Home Edition N and Windows XP Professional N, the two versions of the Windows operating system created as part of the company's compliance with the European Commission's decision of March 2004. The two new versions will be without the Windows Media Player, as required by the European Commission's March 2004 ruling against the company.

Originally released to computer makers in January 2005, the latest versions of the XP operating systems without Windows Media Player follow further clarifications from the European Commission. These products will be made available to computer manufacturers on June 15 in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish, and will be available to other distribution channels, including the retail and volume licensing channels, on July 1.

The remaining language versions - Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese and Swedish - will be available to computer makers on July 1 and to other distribution channels on July 15.

As is the case with existing versions of Windows, computer makers and end users can install other media players with the software.

Microsoft provided CDs with both products to the European Commission early last week.

The EU executive has warned that if Microsoft's proposals are not satisfactory, a decision to fine the US software giant could be taken before the end of July.