Ars Technica has taken an early look at the Windows Product Activation.

Windows Product Activation, aka WPA will be integrated into all versions of Windows XP (the next version of Windows 2000), save DataCenter and volume-based licensed materials (e.g., for licensing Universities, Select partners, etc.). If WPA is in your copy of Windows XP, you´ll have 30 days to activate the product using either the Internet or a phone-in system. Sources assure us that the phone-in system will be fast, and independent from Microsoft Support. Most people, either via dialup or LAN connections, will simply activate Windows XP seamlessly (hopefully) over the net.

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