• Microsoft Bows Down, IE-free Windows 7 for Europe

    Microsoft Bows Down, IE-free Windows 7 for Europe

    Techtree News Staff, Jun 12, 2009 1253 hrs IST

    With single or multiple alternative browsers

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Microsoft has stated its plans to launch a special Windows 7 'E' flavor without Internet Explorer for European countries. EU commission issued a mixed reaction statement that stated Microsoft's proposal may potentially be more positive. This is the aftermath of Microsoft facing anti-trust heat from the European Union since years. This anti-trust heat was about including Internet Explorer in Windows by default, as it hurts the web browser competition. Also, it is claimed that IE does not adhere to web standards.

CNET saw a confidential Microsoft memo sent to PC makers that mentioned, "To ensure that Microsoft is in compliance with European law, Microsoft will be releasing a separate version of Windows 7 for distribution in Europe that will not include Windows Internet Explorer."

Further more, Microsoft will offer IE8 for free to PC makes in Europe if they choose to sell Windows 7 E systems with IE8 pre-installed. Alternatively, PC makers may choose to install any web browser or sell a system with multiple web browsers.

Imagine a situation of buying Windows 7 E version without a web browser. How does one download any web browser without the existence of a browser? So now, web browser(s) in Windows 7 E systems is PC makers' headache. Most users might not be aware of browser options available and PC makers will have to make consumers aware of the different browser options.

Microsoft, in the confidential memo, stated that the announcement impacts Windows 7 products only. Obviously, Microsoft is looking forward to a hiccup-less roll out of its Windows 7 OS globally that includes Europe as well. Microsoft's deputy general counsel Dave Heiner, responded in a blog post on Microsoft on the Issues that the decision to only offer IE separately from Windows 7 in Europe cannot, of course, preclude the possibility of alternative approaches emerging through Commission processes.
Alternatives like including IE8 alternative browsers in Windows 7 and offering ballot screen listing browser for users to choose specific browser have been raised in the EU commission proceedings, added Heiner.

EU, in response Microsoft's IE-less Windows 7 E decision, stated that rather than giving more choices for alternative browsers, Microsoft seems to have chosen to provide less. By removing browser from the operating system, EU might partly accept Microsoft's move. However, computer makers will have to offer installation of IE, different web browser or multiple browsers.

The browser war between IE, Opera, Firefox, Chrome and Safari will become fierce if Microsoft's plan of offering IE-less Windows 7 E gets a green signal. Microsoft itself needs to push its IE8 to be Web standards compatible and stand up to the scores hit by current Opera, Firefox and the recently announced Safari 4 versions. Also, IE's dropping market share in web browser market is nothing new.

Nevertheless, at the end of the squabble, it's the user who'll have to take the pains of choosing a particular browser while purchasing a new system - at least in Europe.

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Microsoft IE Internet Explorer IE8 Windows Europe Browsers Opera Firefox Chrome Safari 4



Discussion Board
(2) Comments
sultan
,abudhabi, on Jun 18, 2009 07:29 AM
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Dexter
,London, on Jun 12, 2009 01:10 PM
European Union and Opera are big time losers. If you see in Microsoft's MSDN network, there are windows versions without IE and any sensible person will not even touch these versions. Ultimately this will irritate majority of users for whom IE is definitely better than Opera.
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