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Microsoft browser pledge ends EU dispute
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Microsoft browser pledge ends EU dispute
Foo Yun Chee and Tarmo Virki
BRUSSELS
Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:31am EST
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union (EU) regulators accepted Microsoft's pledge to give European consumers better access to rival Internet browser in Windows, ending a long antitrust dispute with the U.S. software maker.
Media
Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said millions of European consumers would benefit from being able to choose their browser and the decision would encourage web companies to innovate.
Microsoft will allow users to select from among 12 browsers including its own Internet Explorer, Mozilla's Firefox, Apple's Safari and Google's Chrome on more than 100 million old and new PCs from mid-March.
Browser maker Opera, who filed the original case, and Google welcomed the decision.
"We think this is an important victory for the Web,." Opera's Chief Technology Officer Hakon Wium Lie told Reuters.
"This means Internet users in Europe will have a genuine choice. It feels good. It's been two years of hard work for us."
The decision averted another penalty for Microsoft which has been fined 1.68 billion euros ($2.44 billion) by the European Commission for previous infringements of anti-competition rules.
Microsoft said it was pleased with the result of the case.
The EU executive said Microsoft's legally binding pledge addressed its concerns that the company may have breached EU antitrust rules by bundling its Internet Explorer web browser with its dominant Windows operating system.
Microsoft will also give computer makers the option to turn off Internet Explorer or install a rival browser, the Commission said.
Microsoft's commitments will be valid in the European Economic Area for five years, the Commission said, ending its antitrust investigation.
The European Union executive in January accused Microsoft of seeking to thwart rivals by bundling the company's browser with its Windows PC operating system, thereby harming innovation and reducing consumer choice.
Internet Explorer is used for about 56 percent of global Internet traffic, Mozilla's Firefox about 32 percent and Opera 2 percent, just following Google and Apple Inc's Safari, according to Web analytics firm StatCounter.
Shares in Opera jumped on the news and were 3.5 percent higher at 17.60 euros.
THIRD PARTY PRODUCTS
On Wednesday the Commission also welcomed Microsoft's pledge to improve interoperability between third party products and several Microsoft products, including Windows, Windows Server, Office, Exchange, and SharePoint.
The Commission said it would monitor the impact of this undertaking on the market and take its findings into account in the pending antitrust investigation regarding interoperability.
Kroes said she was "very optimistic" Microsoft's undertaking could resolve her concerns, and she could close the case.
"As we've said before, we are embarking on a path that will require significant change within Microsoft," Brad Smith, Microsoft's General Counsel said in a statement. "Nevertheless, we believe that these are important steps that resolve these competition law concerns."
In 2008 the Commission launched the probe into the interoperability issue on a complaint by industry body European Committee for Interoperable Systems (ECIS), alleging that Microsoft had refused to disclose information that would allow third parties to design programs compatible with its products.
ECIS members include IBM, Nokia, Oracle Corp and Sun Microsystems.
(Editing by Sharon Lindores)
($1=.6879 Euro)
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See All Comments (4) | Post Comment
Dec 16, 2009
I don’t understand how this is anti Trust….Microsoft Makes Windows….Microsoft Makes IE….Its their Products we buy them from Microsoft they should be allowed not have any other browser on their systems if they choose. It’s like saying if you buy a Ford Car they have to install a Chevy, Toyota part on every car to make you have the option. That is just stupid. Apple doesn’t allow just any ones APPs on its Iphone or there are a lot of companies that make products that only work with other products that they make…I can’t believe we live in a world where if you come up with an Idea you have to give your competitors a chance to advertise their product on yours as well. Coke doesn’t say Oh Hey By the Way Pepsi also has a cola you can try….. In their commercials…That would be ridiculous.
Stephen24
Report As Abusive
Dec 16, 2009
You miss the point, Internet Explorer is more than a browser, it’s being used as a conduit to the operating system and as a result is substantially less secure than any other browser. Yet, it can not be removed and Windows content uses it by default even when another product is installed. It’s more like making you drink Coke every time you buy hamburgers and if you buy Pepsi, they still make you drink the coke.
But you are right that regulation won’t fix it. Windows 7 is worse now, you get a pop up asking what browser you want to use then harassed with pop ups and nag screens continuously until you switch to IE. At least before once I got rid of that IE crap I was done with it and didn’t have to use or hear about it ever again.
socratesfoot
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Dec 16, 2009
I understand what you mean now, I was seeing it from a product point of view.
Stephen24
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Dec 16, 2009
socratesfoot, you clearly have no clue how IE or other browsers work on Windows.
In Windows Vista and in Windows 7, IE runs in a low rights sanboxed process that makes it more secure than other browsers without that feature. In that setup when a vulnerability is found in the browser and is exploited the only damage and possible contamination is limited to the sandbox keeping your data and operating system safe. If you want the same level of protection with other browsers you must use a third party tool called Sandboxie.
Also, it is possible to uninstall IE in Windows 7. While it is true that not all components are uninstalled it is because those are used by the operating system for the HTML application specification and hundreds of thousands of third party apps that depend on those API calls and controls will break.
Having said that it is possible to change the default web browser so any actions you take will load the browser you want such as clicking on a link in an email or an application that calls the API to load the default web browser. This is what you will experience 99% of the time.
The funny thing I’m actually a Firefox user and choose Firefox because I like the features and UI better. I just can’t stand people that has no clue what they are talking about spreading incorrect info.
StupidDemocrats
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