E.U. Criticizes Microsoft Plan to Remove Browser
BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union regulators said Friday that Microsoft Corp. was offering less choice, not more, by vowing to sell the next version of Windows without any Web browsers at all.
Microsoft said Thursday that it would remove its Internet Explorer browser — and not include any alternatives — in the Windows 7 software it will sell from Oct. 22 in Europe to soothe EU antitrust concerns.
The company is trying to avoid new EU fines on top of a previous euro1.7 billion after being earlier charged with unfairly using its operating system monopoly to squeeze into other software markets.
But the European Commission said it preferred to see consumers offered a choice of browser ”not that Windows would be supplied without a browser at all.”
”Rather than more choice, Microsoft seems to have chosen to provide less,” it said.
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