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Microsoft and EU reach anti-trust agreement

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Microsoft and EU reach anti-trust agreement
By The Inquirer
Oct 8, 2009 | 7 Comments
Tags: Microsoft | and | EU | reach | anti-trust | agreement

Microsoft giving everyone the browsers they really want.

Microsoft has welcomed the latest round in the European browser debate after the European Commission apparently accepted its proposed measures.

"We welcome today's announcement by the European Commission [EC] to move forward with formal market testing of Microsoft's proposal relating to web browser choice in Europe," said Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith in a statement.

"We also welcome the opportunity to take the next step in the process regarding our proposal to promote interoperability with a broad range of our products."

Smith is referring to the Vole's proposal to offer a browser ballot selection page to buyers of its operating system. This would mean that hardware manufacturers can install several browsers onto machines and let the punter make their own choice.

Smith explained that, although there had been some wrangling, an agreement had been reached that would stay in place for five years.

Neelie Kroes, European commissioner for competition, added: "Without choice, competition will die, and without competition, innovation will die. This case is not just about competition today, it is about competition and innovation tomorrow, next month and next year."

As part of the agreement Microsoft is also making technical documentation available to assist developers and third parties that want to build products to work with Microsoft systems, including Windows, Windows Server, Office, Exchange and SharePoint.

"Today is an important day. Although the EC has not made its final decision, today's news is a major step forward and we are hopeful that this will help move us towards closure to the past and the building of a new foundation for the future," said Smith.

However, although Smith welcomed the agreement, others described it as a compromise.

"We are glad that Microsoft and the EC have reached a compromise in which developers are not adversely affected by the removal of code from Windows," said Jonathan Zuck, president of the Association for Competitive Technology.

"This solution addresses the EC's concerns while ensuring that software developers can continue using the underlying Internet Explorer code to build their programmes."

 

 

theinquirer.net (c) 2009 Incisive Media

 
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7 Comments
Thoughts on this article? Add a comment below.
thesorehead
Oct 8, 2009 11:17 AM
Why is MS referred to as "the Vole"?
TheFrunj
Oct 8, 2009 11:35 AM
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=vole

Because that is how TheInquirer refers to Microsoft. Arbitrary, perhaps, but it is their schtick.

-JR
Periander
Oct 8, 2009 12:22 PM
Which definition is more apt in urbandictionary, one or two?
omega
Oct 8, 2009 12:53 PM
I was eating lunch when I read the 2nd definition and almost choked from laughter imagining a room full of those working on Windows Vista...
2SHY
Oct 8, 2009 1:58 PM
LOL a lot. .The second definition made my day. Seriously why call it Vole? Just use MS or Microsoft.
fliptopia
Oct 9, 2009 9:23 PM
Because, as with so many english journalists, the people at the inquirer are wankers who couldn't write a story without some form of stupidity.
.:Cyb3rGlitch:.
Oct 9, 2009 11:35 PM
"the Vole" is their method of trolling readers. That's how their stories get hits, because people need something to bitch about.
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