Windows XP question

[tacotime]

My friend said that when you purchase Windows XP you need to make a phone call in order to get the serial number .... is that true?
And he also mentioned that if two people are using the same serial number the CD/Program gets terminated (that's rediculous)

[jkrohn]

You either have to connect to the internet or call M$. You read them your serial and this code the install produces, they read you back a 48 digit number to type in. Since you haev to phone in your serial number / electronicly send it they will know if the same key is trying to be used in more than one machine and not send you back a code.