Microsoft agrees to give choice of browsers to Windows

swarfega · 24 Jul 2009

Kendo said:

if Windows 7 E is off the table and will not exist, i wonder what will happen to people who have pre-ordered full retail versions of windows E instead of an upgrade version of the full windows 7 (the discounted rate versions)

Theyre not getting rid of E, just including a choice of browsers where they had refused to before.

copernicus · 24 Jul 2009

swarfega said:

Theyre not getting rid of E, just including a choice of browsers where they had refused to before.

It's either, or, not both. If the ballot thing is accepted, then they'll scrap the E version. Otherwise MS's roadmap is to release only E in europe.

swarfega · 24 Jul 2009

Microsoft is willing to give Windows 7 users in Europe a choice of browsers, rather than simply no browser.

Its only affecting Windows in EU. Rest of the World will be as it is now in the beta.

copernicus · 24 Jul 2009

Yes.
As it stands.
Everywhere= Regular Windows 7
EU = Windows E

If the ballot thing is accepted
EU = Windows 7 w/Ballot

If ballot is not accepted:
EU = Windows E

swarfega · 24 Jul 2009

Im glad your agreeing with me then

Dwarf · 24 Jul 2009

For more on this (and some comments), see Microsoft caves to EU pressure, will offer browser ballot - Ars Technica

tony roma · 24 Jul 2009

i'm not from EU, but my country is trying to get excepted by that same EU (but i don't know why, 'couse i think, and the most of my country mates agrees that EU is a peace of sh.. no offence to anybody but Europe was much better place to live before this EU...), but let's leave politics sidewards, i don't know why is EU bothering which web browser will Microsoft put in ther product? Microsoft did it, right ?!? so why the hell they can't put their product (IE8)? if you don't like it use another, right? by the way i'm using FF...

Night Hawk · 24 Jul 2009

Here's another one you may not have seen.

"News Press Release

Microsoft Proposal to European Commission Statement by Brad Smith, Microsoft General Counsel and Senior Vice President, Microsoft Corporation.

REDMOND, Wash. - July 24, 2009 - As the European Commission has just announced in a statement, Microsoft has made a new proposal in an effort to address competition law issues related to Internet Explorer and interoperability.
Under our new proposal, among other things, European consumers who buy a new Windows PC with Internet Explorer set as their default browser would be shown a ‘ballot screen’ from which they could, if they wished, easily install competing browsers from the Web. If this proposal is ultimately accepted, Microsoft will ship Windows in Europe with the full functionality available in the rest of the world. As requested by the Commission, we will be publishing our proposal in full here on our website as soon as possible.

While the Commission solicits public comment and considers this proposal, we are committed to ensuring that we are in full compliance with European law and our obligations under the 2007 Court of First Instance ruling.
As we said June 11th, we currently are providing PC manufacturers in Europe with E versions of Windows 7, which we believe are fully compliant with European law. PCs manufacturers building machines for the European market will continue to be required to ship E versions of Windows 7 until such time that the Commission fully reviews our proposals and determines whether they satisfy our obligations under European law. If the Commission approves this new proposal, Microsoft will begin work at that time to begin implementation of it with PC manufacturers.
As the European Commission announced, Microsoft’s proposal also includes a public undertaking designed to promote interoperability between third party products and a number of Microsoft products, including Windows, Windows Server, Office, Exchange, and SharePoint.

Like the Internet Explorer proposal, the interoperability measures we are offering involve significant change by Microsoft. They build on the Interoperability Principles announced by Microsoft in February 2008, which were also based on extensive discussions with the Commission, and they include new steps including enforceable warranty commitments.
We believe that if ultimately accepted, this proposal will fully address the European competition law issues relating to the inclusion of Internet Explorer in Windows and interoperability with our high-volume products. This would mark a big step forward in addressing a decade of legal issues and would be good news for European consumers and our partners in the industry.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx."
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/p...ess%20Releases

And then the side notes and references:

Proposal DocumentsBrowser Choice•Proposed Commitment (.doc)
•Annex A – Turning Internet Explorer on and off (.doc)
•Annex B – Web Browser Ballot (.ppt)
Interoperability•Proposed Interoperability Undertaking (.doc)
•Annex A – Warranty Agreement (.doc)
•Annex B – Template Patent License (.doc)
•Annex C – Additional Outlook and Exchange Versions (.doc)
•
Annex D – Outlook and Exchange Future Standards Process (.doc)

HerrKaLeun · 24 Jul 2009

So, Apple now needs to offer a variety of browsers as well since they only ship with Safari?

OT alert..
tony roma: since you are getting billions of euro from the EU you may as well join.
The EU was on your side along with the US when you fought a war. But of course, it is easy to hate the US and the EU but to take our money and military support if needed and drink Coca Cola (even when you are superior to the West). Of course, the EU with all its regulations was good enough to harbor all the Croatian refugees during the war.
If the EU was gone one day, who would you trade with? Your friends the Serbs and the Russians? Who would bring you tourism money? Who would transfer tremendous amounts of tax money to you?
It always is interesting to see Eastern European countries that barely have any economy, 40% unemployment rate, no real streets.. then they join the EU, have lower unemployment rate, higher wages, more cars, better streets, and then complain about the EU. Like all the Latin Americans who hate the US (but we need to build a fence to keep them from coming here?)

Muad Dib · 24 Jul 2009

"Under our new proposal, among other things, European consumers who buy a new Windows PC with Internet Explorer set as their default browser would be shown a ‘ballot screen’ from which they could, if they wished, easily install competing browsers from the Web."

Sounds as if it only affects PCs with Windows pre-installed, not retail OS Upgrade and Full License "Boxed" SKUs.