As you know, Windows XP Service Pack 2 has been in development and testing for quite some time. On Friday, August 6, the company released SP2 to manufacturing and the new service pack is schedule to become available online very soon. The company will release the new service pack as a critical update, and here's Microsoft's release schedule according to Microsoft MVP Jerry Bryant:
On August 9 the company will release SP2 to the Download Center as a network installation package. Bryant said that on the same day the company will release SP2 to the Developer's Network (MSDN) subscription site where members can download an ISO image. However, Paul Thurrott reports that SP2 is already available on MSDN for Universal and Professional MSDN subscribers.
On August 10, SP2 will be released to the Windows Update site for automatic updates, but only for systems that already have a beta version of SP2 installed. On August 16, SP2 will become available on Windows Update for systems that don't already have a beta copy of SP2 installed. Also on August 16, SP2 will be released to Software Update Services. Sometime later in August Microsoft will release SP2 to Windows Update for interactive user installations.
For more information about SP2 visit the Windows XP Service Pack 2 resource site and the Windows XP Service Pack 2 support site at Microsoft.