New York Senator Charles Schumer has called for an investigation
into "anti-competitive" practices in Microsoft's Windows XP
operating system, urging the US Department of Justice to make the
cessation of such practices a condition of any settlement in the
government's antitrust case against the company.
Schumer is seeking assurances that Microsoft will modify Windows XP
to allow users to choose their own media player, messenger services
and other applications.
Schumer, a Democrat, also sent letters outlining his concerns to
Microsoft's chief executive officer Steve Ballmer and the head of
the Department of Justice's antitrust division.
Although Schumer has supported Microsoft projects in the past, his
support for the company began to recede as evidence of alleged
anti-competitive activity mounted. One of his main concerns is the
inclusion of a number of Microsoft-authored applications in Windows
XP that will take the place of third-party programs.
Earlier this month, Microsoft said it would no longer require
Windows licensees to include Internet Explorer as a preloaded
application on new PCs. Commenting on this, Schumer said that if
users were to be allowed to choose their Web browsers, they should
also be allowed to choose other applications.
In his letter to Ballmer, Schumer wrote, "By linking its other
programs to the operating system, Windows XP is poised to
extinguish RealPlayer or any other alternative music player in the
same manner as it did Netscape."
Responding to Schumer's criticisms, Jack Krumholtz, the director of
federal government affairs at Microsoft, said, "Windows has always
been designed as an open platform that creates new business
opportunities for many third parties. Blocking the release of
Windows XP would have a negative effect on the industry. Windows XP
is critical to reignite the PC industry in the United States."