Microsoft has announced it will release a browserless version
of its latest Windows operating system in Europe in an apparent
attempt to win favour with authorities threatening
sanctions.
European anti-monopoly authorities have charged Microsoft with
harming browser competition by illegally bundling Internet Explorer
with its Windows operating system.
The EU is considering forcing Microsoft to give Windows users a
wider choice of browsers as well as imposing a financial
penalty.
Legal observers believe the penalty could approach the record
$1.49bn recently levied on Intel, according to the
Financial Times.
Microsoft said yesterday that Windows 7 would be released in
Europe without a browser to enable PC makers and consumers to
install a browser of their choice.
The European Commission said it noted Microsoft's move "with
interest", but that for consumers, the moved provides less choice
instead of more.
The
European Committee for Interoperable Systems (ECIS), a grouping
of technology companies opposed to Microsoft, said the move was a
step was in the right direction, but did not go far enough.
The ECIS earlier this week
accused Microsoft of understating its share of the browser
market in an attempt to downplay the extent to which it has harmed
competition
Microsoft was due to appear at a hearing in Brussels to add to
the written defence filed in April, but said it would not attend
because important European antitrust officials would be unable to
attend.
If Microsoft fails to appear, European Union competition
commissioner Neelie Kroes is free to make a ruling on the case.