EU to Test MSFT's Browser Ballot Screen Solution
Despite complaints from Microsoft's competitors it looks like the European Union is all but ready to approve the Redmond-based company's ballot screen proposal.
In July of this year, Microsoft proposed shipping a modified version of Windows to European customers. This version would include a ballot screen that would appear when the user tried to connect to the web, allowing them to choose a browser other than Microsoft's Internet Explorer.
The European Commission this morning released a statement detailing the satisfactory changes made to the proposal since it was first announced. The Commission went on to say that it would begin market testing the screen and on October 9, would formally invite comments from consumers, software companies, computer manufacturers and other interested parties.
Among the changes made by Microsoft is a brief explanation of what a browser is, as well as a "Tell me more" button for each browser.
EC Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes expressed positive opinions about the ballot screen proposal at a press conference today.
"We believe this is an answer," said Kroes. "I think this is a trustful deal we are making. There can't be a misunderstanding because it is the final result of a long discussion between Steve Ballmer and me."
You might try reading the summary of their decisions:
EU - What MS did wrong and why it was bad.
MS - Ballot, IE uninstallation, and API disclosures proposal.
EU - Why they went with the ballot screen suggested by Microsoft instead of letting MS just drop IE entirely.
And the latest press release by the EU is at the bottom of the article we're commenting on.
This brings up the saying
"You need a drivers license to buy a car but any idiot can be a dad"
Dunno how the hell that fits in..but i think we need to ban idiots from using the net till they know what its all about... get internet certified!
Here's the MS proposal that the EU accepted: link (.doc)
Understand now?
With IE pre-installed it offers an unfair advantage for IE. It's irrelevant that MS has done everything in it's power to put IE as the backbone of their entire OS, they choose to do so, it's not a requirement to build an OS.
Now these companies are getting a fair chance to compete. And everyone can get the car examples out there and say but I get a BMW chair with my BMW, but it's a different product. The OS and the browser are (or should be) independent.
The EU's way to deal with these problems with fees and things isn't the greatest way either and luckily for once it resulted in something good. But they are right and the other browsers asked the EU to try to find a way to solve the problem for them. It's not just the EU who wanted this change.
Yes, IE should not form the backbone of Windows. That's all they should have to reconfigure, and make IE easy to uninstall.
It's a shame for Microsoft that Europe forms a large part of their market. Otherwise I'd be all for the idea of yanking Microsoft products out of Europe. The EU right now is showing how money oriented it is in these cases, and at the very least if they're forcing this through, they should not be imposing fees at all.
It's not about money, it's about rules. The rules dictate how the game is played. The person who makes the rules has to have a way to enforce the rules. They use money.
Other option would be to exclude a product from the market, but that won't benefit the people who they represent. They don't have a good alternative.
So while money isn't the most ideal system (it will force prices up as the company never pays for it), there has to be some form of punishment for breaking the rules.
And these aren't European rules, the European Government just want to show that they have a reason to exist and they want to have fair trade within the borders of Europe. Why other countries are ignoring this and letting big companies prevent smaller companies from having a chance is a mystery, but in stead of pointing a finger at Europe and saying they are doing bad, maybe these changes will in the end help everyone.
Man, I never want to offer anything for free simply because some idiot will sue you for it.
My system has firefox and chrome on it, yet it still works just as well as it did in the past...
Its not like MS is forcing us to use IE and crippling windows abilities if we use another product on the side.
*Cough, nVidia Physx, cough*
Agreed. What about all Linux distros?
Show me the monopoly.
Economic competiton for free software ... doesn't apply as far as im concerned ... unless the competitors are wanting to start charging for thier software, but they would need Microshaft to quit supplying it for free.
AHHHH so thats their plan.
I can not understand which part about MONOPOLY and the EU commission decision appears to be so complcated to these americans.
Microsoft is a MONOPOLIST in the OS market and by selling their OS and IE as a package, MS can bankrupt any IE competitor. Of course IE is not free - there are people working on the project and they are being paid wages by MS - but the price for IE is included in the price of your Windows copy.
The only thing the EU commission wants is for MS to offer a Windows version without IE (cheaper - less the cost for making IE) and a version with IE (prised to include IE production costs).
BUT MS DOES NOT WANT TO SELL YOU THE TWO PRODUCTS SEPERATELY!
And because MS is a MONOPOLIST in the operating systems market - they FORCE more than 90% of computer owners to buy IE as well, i.e. MICROSOFT USES ITS MONOPOLY TO GET UNFAIR ADVANTAGE TO OTHER BROWSER MAKERS AND SELL IE.
Apple's OS X and Linux distros together hold less than 10% of the OS market and they do not threaten to harm any other browser makers.
For example, imagine your local water company (usually a monopolist) starts making beer and does not whant to give you water supply if you don't also buy from them a 100 cans of beer each month. Wouldn't this bankrupt all competing breweries as well?
This is what using monopoly to gain unfair advantage means.