Microsoft will strip browser from Windows 7 in Europe
From Irish Independent today:
By Dina Bass
Friday June 12 2009
Microsoft will ship the new Windows 7 operating system in the EU without the Internet Explorer browser, aiming to quell antitrust concerns.
All versions of the software sold in the region will lack the browser, which has been the subject of a European Commission antitrust case, Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft said today. Windows 7 goes on sale Oct. 22.
The commission has accused Microsoft of limiting consumers’ choices and stifling product innovation by including its browser with Windows. The company said in January that the commission might seek a “significant” fine, as well as require Microsoft to disable some Internet Explorer software code and let customers choose a rival browser.
“We’re committed to making Windows 7 available in Europe at the same time it launches in the rest of the world, but we also must comply with European competition law,” Kevin Kutz, Microsoft’s director of public affairs, said in an e-mail. The company will offer Internet Explorer separately in that region.
The commission said today in a statement that it will issue a ruling shortly in the case, and that if a violation is found, consumers should be offered a choice of browsers.
Windows runs about 95 percent of the world’s personal computers, raising concerns that any software bundled with the operating system will have an unfair advantage. While leaving out Internet Explorer responds to that criticism, it hurts distribution of the browser at a time when its dominance is slipping.
Market Share
Internet Explorer had 66 percent of the market in May, according to Net Applications, a research firm in Aliso Viejo, California. Mozilla's Firefox had 23 percent, while Apple’s Safari had 8.4 percent. Internet Explorer’s market share was once more than 95 percent.
The proposal appears to reduce choice for retail buyers of Windows, since they will now get no browser at all, the commission said in its statement. Still, it will allow PC makers to choose which browsers to include, the commission said. If Microsoft is found to have violated antitrust law, the commission will have to decide if the company’s actions are sufficient to address it.
CNet News reported Microsoft’s plans earlier, citing a memo from the company to computer makers. (Bloomberg)
- Dina Bass
