EU, Microsoft, agree to agree over browsers
p2pnet news view Freedom | P2P:- In stark contrast to its “acrimonious first legal clash with European officials, which resulted in fines of €1.68 billion, or $2.44 billion and an order to change some business practices,” Microsoft has finally decided to give European users free choice over which browser they can use, says the New York Times.
In return, “Brussels has ditched some of its antitrust action against Microsoft,” says The Register, going on:
“The vendor will be required to implement the option by mid-March, however the commitments it has made to the EC are ‘legally-binding’ from today. The move means that computer makers will be able to ship PCs without Internet Explorer to countries within the 27-state bloc.
Windows users will have a Choice Screen with the 12 most widely-used web browsers and “There will also be an option for OEMs and customers to switch off IE and make a different browser the default option in Windows,” says the story.
Microsoft will by mid-March, “send ballot screens via automatic software updates to 100 million users of Windows XP, Vista and 7 operating systems in Europe who have set Internet Explorer as their main browser,” says the NYT, adding:
“Through March 2015, the screens will also be automatically sent to purchasers of new Windows-based computers, an estimated 30 million per year. Computer makers will also have the ability to turn off Internet Explorer before sale and install rival browsers.
“On the ballot screen, consumers initially will be able to choose from Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Chrome, Opera, AOL, Maxthon, K-Meleon, Flock, Avant Browser, Sleipnir and Slim Browser. The first five, which are the most widely used, will be prominently displayed, and the others will be shown when a user scrolls sideways on the screen.”
And behind it all is Norway’s Opera which “brought its complaint against Microsoft tying its browser to Windows to the EC in December 2007,” says The Register.
“This is a victory for the future of the web,” it has CEO Jon von Tetzchner stating.
“This decision is also a celebration of open web standards, as these shared guidelines are the necessary ingredients for innovation on the web.”
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New York Times – Europe Drops Microsoft Antitrust Case Over Browsers, December 16, 2009
The Register – EC drops Microsoft browser probe, December 16, 2009
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