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Windows 7 Bundled with Firefox, Chrome, or Safari?

Submitted by Kenneth Pennington on Wednesday, 28 January 20096 Comments

The European Union has filed an official complaint regarding Microsoft’s monopoly power over the browser market. According to the complaint, Microsoft is unfairly edging out competition in the internet browser market by including its Internet Explorer browser in Windows operating systems. The complaint was filed by Opera Software ASA, the makers of the Opera web browser to the European Commission.

On January 15th, 2009, the Commission offered a report concluding that Microsoft’s inclusion of Interenet Explorer in Windows operating systems has violated European competition law since 1996. Microsoft will have an opportunity to respond to the complaint within two months with a list of objections. They also may choose to request a hearing in which the Commission will set up trial-like debate about the issue.

Will Windows 7 be forced to include the option to use one of these browsers?

Microsoft said in their report, “Such a remedy might include a requirement that OEMs distribute multiple browsers on new Windows-based PCs.” If such a remedy is decided neccessary by the Commission, Microsoft’s Windows 7 will likely be released by OEMs with browser options. Since Windows 7 is likely to be released in late 2009 or early 2010, any decisions made by the European Commission will most likely apply to the new operating system, or else Microsoft will face hefty fines on European sales of their product.

If OEMs are forced to include a choice of browser in their product, Windows PCs may come with Mozilla Firefox, Google’s new Chrome, or maybe even Apple’s Safari.

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6 Comments »

Cody Cooper said:

I can doubt Microsoft would offer Firefox as its open-source, and not Safari because simply it’s Mac.

Which only leaves, well, Google Chrome, but I would much rather use anything but Chrome, it would be good if consumers got a choice of browser.

This now, and then it will be like “Dell can’t sell Windows on their computers because it’s taking over the market.”, which as ridiculous as it sounds, could well be true in future.

- 6 February 2009 at 10:37 pm

Kwyjibo said:

“Since Windows 7 is likely to be released in late 2009 or early 2010, any decisions made by the European Commission will most likely apply to the new operating system, or else Microsoft will face hefty fines on European sales of their product.”

I don’t think so, because if the European Commisson really decides, that MS must bundle their OSes w/ multiple browsers, then MS will not accept this decision and it will only have consequences, if the commission wins th trial against MS on the European Court of Justice. The European Court of Justice normally iss quite slow, so I don’t think, taht this case will be decided before 2015.

- 30 March 2009 at 1:09 am

Arjun Pachory said:

It’s really stupid to even have such a lawsuit simply for having Windows bundled with its own browser. Macs always come with Safari and they’re free from this. As long as Windows allows installation of other browsers they’re doing nothing wrong.

Everyone knows that IE is the worst possible browser anyways, and most people do change their browser, but having a company being unable to sell their own software in their own OS is crap.

- 13 June 2009 at 5:42 am

Nicolas said:

Actually, the EC has acted correctly and they should fine Microsoft and instruct them to not include ANY web browsers on their OS, or any links that will push the user to install IE. This way the user will really decide which browser to use, and no. Most people don’t change IE for other browsers and this is because IE is already there, why bother changing? You’d be surprised to find out that A LOT of people don’t even know about Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Netscape and Safari. This was actually the tactic MS used to completely stamp out the predominant Netscape browser some 10 years ago and how IE gained dominance in the browser market.

- 23 July 2009 at 7:21 pm

Thor said:

“they should fine Microsoft and instruct them to not include ANY web browsers on their OS”

If they don’t include any web browsers on their OS, how the hell are people going to be able to view any webpages? You need at least one browser, otherwise, you’re screwed.

- 1 August 2009 at 2:48 pm

Garcia said:

Microsoft is in fact doing nothing wrong by including their internet browser with their operating system, and even if their operating system did not allow the installation of new browsers thats too bad for the makers of the the other browsers.
Microsoft is just smarter, and better than their competitors.

- 13 November 2009 at 9:13 pm