SPOnG can confirm emerging reports that claim Microsoft is poised to announce a warranty extension for Xbox 360 early adopters in the US, with the program expected be rolled out across the world during the coming weeks.

We placed a call to Microsoft's Xbox customer support centre in the US today whereupon an operator outlined that indeed, there is some good news for some Xbox 360 owners. If your console is manufactured in or before January 2006, a one year warranty extension will be offered. The warranty extension will be from the date date of manufacture of your console, unless you have a sales receipt showing that you bought a machine manufactured before January. In which case your extension will be one year from date of purchase.

What's more, if you have a machine that would qualify for the extension and you've had to pay for a repair already, Microsoft will issue a cheque for the full repair amount, usually $139.90.

The full announcement is expected tomorrow in the US, with a European and Japanese returns program expected to be outlined in the coming days.