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Forums - PC Discussion - Windows 7 will not include Internet Explorer in EU markets.

superchunk on 11 June 2009

Source

Prompted by antitrust concerns, Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) said Thursday that it plans to ship a version of its Windows 7 operating system in Europe that does not come bundled with the Internet Explorer Web browser.

"We're committed to making Windows 7 available in Europe at the same time that it launches in the rest of the world, but we also must comply with European competition law as we launch the product," wrote Dave Heiner, Microsoft's deputy general counsel, in a blog post.

The European Union's competition watchdog, known as the European Commission, earlier this year said Microsoft's bundling of Windows and Explorer violates antitrust rules and stifles competition in the browser market. The EU has also levied more than $1 billion in fines against Microsoft for past antitrust violations.

"Given the pending legal proceeding, we've decided that instead of including Internet Explorer in Windows 7 in Europe, we will offer it separately and on an easy-to-install basis to both computer manufacturers and users. This means that computer manufacturers and users will be free to install Internet Explorer on Windows 7, or not, as they prefer. Of course, they will also be free, as they are today, to install other Web browsers," Heiner said.

Microsoft will add the letter "E" to versions of Windows 7 that don't include Explorer. For example, Windows 7 Home Premium would be called Windows 7 Home Premium E.

If the majority of European PC makers choose to install Explorer and enable it as the default browser it could support Microsoft's argument that it's bundling of software products is merely an effort to satisfy consumer demand, and isn't meant to stifle competition.

Microsoft in Europe previously offered a version of Windows, Windows N, that did not include the Windows Media Player. The version proved extremely unpopular with consumers, Microsoft said.

Heiner said Windows 7 E will be available in 23 European languages and will ship the same time Windows 7 is delivered to the rest of the world—October 22nd.

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ok, this is where EU is just plain stupid. How the hell are you going to get any other browser without IE to download it in the first place? All this is going to do is prove MS right that IE is a necessary part of the package as a default. All MS needs to do, which it already has, is make it simple to dowload any other browser and set it as the default.



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slimeattack on 11 June 2009

Superchunk, when it comes to MS, this makes sense. In case you didn't know, the EU has been trying since a few months to make MS include a "ballot box" for browsers in Windows (so that a person installing Windows could choose whether to install IE, Firefox, Opera, Safari and/or Chrome, choosing one as the default one). It was a threat to MS that it would once and for all kill IE domination, so now MS has preempted the Commission and said there won't be IE on Windows, unless[i/] someone actually wants it (the consumer or the hardware maker). It will be interesting to see the Commission's reaction to this.



Munkeh111 on 11 June 2009

Yeah, my first thought was how will I download Firefox... but they must have something for that

Next are they going to stop Apple from shipping their own software on their own OS on their own hardware? I see absolutely nothing wrong with it



superchunk on 11 June 2009
slimeattack said:
Superchunk, when it comes to MS, this makes sense. In case you didn't know, the EU has been trying since a few months to make MS include a "ballot box" for browsers in Windows (so that a person installing Windows could choose whether to install IE, Firefox, Opera, Safari and/or Chrome, choosing one as the default one). It was a threat to MS that it would once and for all kill IE domination, so now MS has preempted the Commission and said there won't be IE on Windows, unless[i/] someone actually wants it (the consumer or the hardware maker). It will be interesting to see the Commission's reaction to this.

That's stupid. MS should be able to give away free versions of any of its products with any other product. The only crime would be to inhibit the use of anyone else's product.

MS's reaction is the best one, all or none, fine none. However if you would like you can instal IE from the disc provided. Makes a lot more sense on given the commisions stupid position.

That's like saying Sony can't bundle GT without offering some 3rd party racing game as a choice instead. It just makes no sense.



FreeTalkLive on 11 June 2009

The EU is bad and should be abolished.



 

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SamuelRSmith on 11 June 2009

I can't see how anyone could be in support of Microsoft for this. Microsoft are abusing their position in the Operating System market to gain in the browser market - that's anti-competitive behaviour.

You may be thinking "so what, they're free products" - but there's financial gain to be had from the browser market - why else do you think that Microsoft is acting in the way it is? Browsers gain revenue from people using the search bars in the corner, and it can also act as a way for Microsoft to push their own search and online services - more anti-competitive behaviour.

Microsoft also use the Windows-IE lock to try and create an IE-Windows lock. The more consumers get adjusted to Windows apps the less likely they are to go for alternative Operating Systems.

Microsoft's forced-monopoly in the browser market has led to a stagnation in the advancement of the web. What's the point in following web standards and embracing new web technologies if the market leading browser doesn't utilise them.



Pellefant on 11 June 2009

Yeah, the EU should be abolished. Like New Hampshire.



NeoRatt on 11 June 2009

This is ridiculous.

Browsers are free products.

You do not need a lot of smarts to surf to a web site and download another free browser.



superchunk on 11 June 2009
SamuelRSmith said:
I can't see how anyone could be in support of Microsoft for this. Microsoft are abusing their position in the Operating System market to gain in the browser market - that's anti-competitive behaviour.

You may be thinking "so what, they're free products" - but there's financial gain to be had from the browser market - why else do you think that Microsoft is acting in the way it is? Browsers gain revenue from people using the search bars in the corner, and it can also act as a way for Microsoft to push their own search and online services - more anti-competitive behaviour.

Microsoft also use the Windows-IE lock to try and create an IE-Windows lock. The more consumers get adjusted to Windows apps the less likely they are to go for alternative Operating Systems.

Microsoft's forced-monopoly in the browser market has led to a stagnation in the advancement of the web. What's the point in following web standards and embracing new web technologies if the market leading browser doesn't utilise them.

No. Your over simplifying the situation and going to unrealistic expectations.

Originally MS was using malicious coding to actually hinder non-MS products usability/installation/default settings. That is what they were originally sued for by US and EU. Now EU is just being an asshole now that MS has changed the OS to not have any restrictions.

MS is now very open to 3rd party browsers, media software, etc. There is nothing illegal about MS throwing in IE or any other MS product for free with thier OS. Its the same thing Linux builds and Mac do.

Forcing MS to throw in every browser option is stupid. All it will do is unecesarily bog down installation and take up way too much space on install discs.

Also, MS with IE8 has finally reversed its poor policy and is fully W3C complaint.



FreeTalkLive on 11 June 2009
Pellefant said:
Yeah, the EU should be abolished. Like New Hampshire.

That would be interesting.  The EU is just an agreement.  NH is an actual government.  However, I open to the idea of letting all of the cities in NH becoming individual city-states.  That's how much of Germany, Italy and Greece used to be.

Will you help with it?



 

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