Microsoft to sell Windows 7 in Europe with no browser, EC upset

Jake Widman
Saturday, 13 June 2009 00:42

IT Industry - Strategy

Without careful planning and backup, customers who do a clean install of the European version of Windows 7 will not only not get IE 8, they'll wipe out any other browsers they may happen to have.

Since most computer users download browsers using a browser, this would leave them in a tough spot.

For its part, the European Commission was not amused by Microsoft's power play.

In a press release, the Commission responded, "In terms of potential remedies if the Commission were to find that Microsoft had committed an abuse, the Commission has suggested that consumers should be offered a choice of browser, not that Windows should be supplied without a browser at all."

"Rather than more choice, Microsoft seems to have chosen to provide less," the release noted.

The Commission further reserved the right to reject Microsoft's solution.

"Were the Commission to conclude that Microsoft’s behaviour has been abusive, it would have to consider whether this proposal would in itself be sufficient to create genuine consumer choice on the web browser market," the report continued.

"The Commission would inter alia take into account the long standing nature of Microsoft's conduct. It would also have to consider whether this initial step of technical separation of IE from Windows could be negated by other actions by Microsoft."