“Microsoft has proposed a consumer ballot screen as a solution to the pending antitrust case about the tying of Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser with Windows,” it said in a statement.<\/p>\n
It said computer users would be able to “easily install competing Web browsers, set one of those browsers as a default, and disable Internet Explorer” from the ballot screen.<\/p>\n
“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,” Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith said in a release.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
The commission, Europe’s top competition watchdog, opened a new front in its epic anti-trust battle with Microsoft in January.<\/p>\n
It hit the company with fresh charges of unfairly squashing competition by bundling its Internet Explorer Web browser into its ubiquitous Windows personal computer operating system.<\/p>\n
Under the plan, rival browsers including Firefox (Mozilla), Google’s Chrome or Opera by Norway’s Opera Software will now be placed before consumers at the point when they set up a new computer’s operating preferences.<\/p>\n
European consumers who buy new Windows-based personal computers with Internet Explorer pre-set as the browser would be shown a “ballot screen” from which they could easily install competing browsers from the Web, Smith said.<\/p>\n
If the commission accepts the proposal, Microsoft will ship Windows 7 in Europe with IE built-in, as will be the case in the rest of the world with the software release in October, according to the Redmond, Washington-based firm.<\/p>\n
In an effort to appease EU regulators, Microsoft currently plans to ship in Europe “E versions” of Windows 7 without Web browsers.<\/p>\n
Smith said that Microsoft’s proposal includes a “public undertaking” designed to promote interoperability between third party software and products including Windows, Windows Server, Office, Exchange, and SharePoint.<\/p>\n
“The Commission welcomes this proposal, and will now investigate its practical effectiveness in terms of ensuring genuine consumer choice,” the statement added.<\/p>\n
Microsoft on Wednesday declared its next-generation Windows 7 operating system ready for delivery to computer makers.<\/p>\n
More than 10 million people joined in testing Windows 7 software in a voluntary test program, according to the US company.<\/p>\n
Because of the regulatory wrangling in Europe, the Windows 7 version going on sale there was originally to have seen Internet Explorer completely removed.<\/p>\n