Microsoft bows to EU in browser war
- Source: Global Times
- [01:43 December 17 2009]
- Comments
EU antitrust regulators accepted Wednesday Microsoft's offer to allow users in Europe to choose rival Internet browsers, ending a decade-long dispute and averting a possible fine for the company.
The European Commission has to date imposed fines totaling 1.68 billion euros ($2.44 billion) on the US software giant for infringing EU antitrust rules.
"The European Commission has adopted a decision that renders legally binding commitments offered by Microsoft to boost competition on the Web browser market," said a statement on the latest front in their epic anti-trust battle.
The European Union executive said Microsoft's pledge addressed its concerns that the company may have breached EU anti-trust rules by bundling its Internet Explorer web browser with its dominant Windows operating system.
"Millions of European consumers will benefit from this decision by having a free choice about which Web browser they use," Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said in a statement.
She said the company's pledge was an incentive for web-browser companies to innovate and offer better browsers in the future.
The European Union executive had in January accused Microsoft of seeking to thwart rivals by bundling the company's Web browser with its Windows PC operating system, thereby harming innovation and reducing consumer choice.
Microsoft's Internet Explorer is used for about 56 percent of global Internet traffic, Mozilla's Firefox about 32 percent and Opera 2 percent, just ahead of Google and Apple's Safari, according to Web analytics firm StatCounter.
Agencies
