European Union Demands that Windows 7 Comes With Browser

European competition officials said that they were unimpressed by Microsoft's move to ship a version of Windows 7 without Internet Explorer or any other browser.

"If the commission were to find that Microsoft had committed an abuse, the commission has suggested that consumers be offered a choice of browser, not that Windows should be supplied with no browser at all," the European Union's European Commission said in a statement.

Microsoft on Thursday said that it would release a version of it’s next operating system called Windows 7 E, which would not include Internet Explorer. The firm said that it would be up to consumers and PC manufacturers what internet browser they install. The EC said that it could do more harm then good.

"Given that over 95% of consumers acquire Windows pre-installed on a PC, it is particularly important to ensure consumer choice through the computer manufacturer channel. Microsoft has apparently decided to supply retail consumers with a version of Windows without a Web browser at all. Rather than more choice, Microsoft seems to have chosen to provide less," said the EC.

Earlier this year the EC said that Microsoft’s bundling of Internet Explorer with Windows violated European anti-trust laws (funny that they don’t fine Apple). The EC has also find Microsoft with $1 billion in the past.

"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," wrote Dave Heiner, Microsoft's deputy general counsel.

In Europe Microsoft offered a version of Windows called Windows N, which did not include Windows Media Player. Windows N was highly unpopular with consumers.

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 " Oct. 22.

Sphere: Related Content

Who Wins with a Browser-less Windows 7

Microsoft has made a move to include a version of Windows 7 without any browser to make the EU (European Union) happy, but it may make life difficult for Europeans, particularly those who want to upgrade from Windows Vista.

As reported by CNET News there are plans to ship Windows 7 to both consumers and computer manufacturers without Internet Explorer.

Now, most people will get Windows 7 on a new PC. Presumably, in that case, the computer maker will chose to add back Internet Explorer, include one or more rival browsers, or do both.

"Microsoft recommends that OEMs pre-install either IE8 or at least one other browser of their choice before distribution. If you do this, your end users in the European territory should be able to access the Internet without any additional steps or inconvenience.” Microsoft said in a memo to PC makers.

The real hassle is for people who want to upgrade to Windows 7.

Upgrading from Windows 7 from Vista c an normally be done by simply be done by placing an upgrade disk in the computer, which would preserve the users data. However, because it removes the browser, moving to the "E" version of Windows 7 can only be done with a clean installation.

Because of that the users have no browser, therefore no way to download anything, including web browsers. So if they want to upgrade to Oprah or Firefox there is no easy way to do it. For its part, Microsoft plans to make it as easy as possible for them to get IE. It will offer it via CD-ROMs at retail stores and via FTP, an old file downloading technique that has been largely sidelined due to modern browsers.

So who benefits from a browser-less version of Windows? The PC manufacturers do! They now have a more valuable piece of real estate to sell. In the past, they could offer deals to include rival browsers as the default on a new PC, but they were still shipping a PC with Internet Explorer. Presumably now, a browser maker could strike a deal to be the only browser on a machine.

An expert said that he expects most computers to come with Internet Explorer even though the PC manufacturers will have an option.

As for Microsoft they plan to offer an Internet Pack Internet Explorer and its Windows Live programs.

Sphere: Related Content