Microsoft begins EU browser ballot

Stephen Withers
Monday, 22 February 2010 11:49

IT Policy - Regulation

Microsoft will start presenting Windows users in the EU with a browser ballot screen on March 1.

When the European Commission (EC) took the view that the tying of Internet Explorer to Windows constituted abuse of a dominant market position, it suggested a so-called 'ballot screen' that would let users pick whichever browser they preferred as the default.

Microsoft's initial response was to build Windows 7 E, a version of Windows that omitted the front-end of Internet Explorer (the back-end is required by certain operating system components), leaving OEMs and users free to install their browser of choice.

The company subsequently shifted tack, and offered to implement a ballot screen in line with the EC's recommendation.

In December 2009, the EC accepted Microsoft's commitment to allow OEMs and end users in Europe to "turn Internet Explorer off and on"; to allow OEMs to ship whichever browser(s) they choose, with no restriction on the default; and to provide existing Windows users that have Internet Explorer set as the default browser with a ballot screen presenting a choice of browsers.

Even if users elect to close the initial information page presented by the ballot, a second page is displayed showing the top five browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera and Safari) in random order. Minor browsers, also in random order, can be seen by scrolling the window horizontally.

There's more on the mechanics of the ballot on page 2.