Microsoft faces EU fine over browser choice 'error'

Summary: Despite labeling the incident as a "technical error," Microsoft is braced for another hefty fine from the EU after it failed to include the browser choice software in Windows.

Europe's antitrust chief has sent the strongest signal yet that Microsoft faces heavy financial penalties after the software giant failed to include a "browser choice" screen for European users in the latest version of Windows 7.

In an interview with the AFP news agency, European Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said that fault had been admitted and said the European Commission needed to "react," suggesting heavy fines were on the way.

"The fault is there, it has been there for more than a year and it is clear that we need to react," he said, adding: "It is not only the distortion of competition during this period which concerns us; it is very serious, from my point of view, that the remedies imposed on Microsoft have not been applied."

More at ZDNet.com

Probably it's cheaper for Microsoft to pay a fine than gift custumers to Mozilla or Google.

I will never understand how they can fine a company for providing a customer with a free browser which they package with their software. How can giving your customer something for free and which isn't tied to the operating system be bad ? If the customer wishes to use another browser after installing the operating system they are free to do so. I used the free browser to download and install chrome and don't choose to use IE so just where is the problem ?

I will never understand how they can fine a company for providing a customer with a free browser which they package with their software. How can giving your customer something for free and which isn't tied to the operating system be bad ? If the customer wishes to use another browser after installing the operating system they are free to do so. I used the free browser to download and install chrome and don't choose to use IE so just where is the problem ?

I suppose if Thailand was in the EU then 7-11 would need to offer customers some Mini Mart products. LOL. I can't see why someone who builds a business is forced to offer their competitors products. Can you imagine having a shop and saying to all your customer "we have these great products but why don't you try the shop next door, because they might have something better that you'll be interested in". Bottom line is that the EU don't like Microsoft and they don't like successful businesses. The EU is failed socialist state.

I bought a car. it came with a perfectly functional CD / radio sound system. I chose to replace it with a different one that had a reversing camera, TV, DVD, Sat Nav etc.

Why haven't any car manufacturers been fined for providing me with a car that not only drives me to where I want to go but has the nerve to provide me with a free sound system which I may not want for free ?

No different to Microsoft doing the same with Windows.

If they end up providing the only browser with "Do Not Track" turned on by default, the EC will have a bit of a conundrum. "You must provide customers with a browser that allows people to harvest their data!".