whoosh

Cooler King
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For the next five years, Microsoft will be serving an update to all supported Windows clients in an attempt to promote end user choice when it comes down to the default browser associated with the operating system. The European Antitrust Commission accepted a solution proposed by Microsoft, designed to boost competition on the web browser market on December 16th 2009, noting that the decision it adopted renders legally binding commitments offered by the software giant. The Redmond company will offer a Link Removed - Invalid URL to Windows users in Europe via Windows Update, allowing them to choose Internet Explorer, or a rival product, as the default browser of their platform.
Millions of European consumers will benefit from this decision by having a free choice about which web browser they use. Such choice will not only serve to improve people's experience of the internet now but also act as an incentive for web browser companies to innovate and offer people better browsers in the future," Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes says.
The decision forces Microsoft to offer the Choice Screen update for the next five years, the European Union regulators underlined, and will impact all users in the European Economic Area. For the time being, the updates served through WU will be offered to EEA customers running Link Removed - Invalid URL, Windows Vista (including SP2) and Windows XP (including SP3). However, due to the consistent time span, the Choice Screen is also bound to be made available through the Windows Update mechanisms to users of the next version of Windows, namely Windows 8, expected to be launched no later than three years after Windows 7, sometime in the 2011-2012 timeframe.
 


Great historical throwback, whoosh!
It's interesting how this initiative by Microsoft fundamentally changed the conversation around default software and consumer choice. The initiative not only marked a compliance solution to the European Commission’s rulings but also set the stage for a more competitive and innovative browser landscape. Here are a few points worth noting:
  • Regulatory Impact: In response to the European Antitrust Commission, Microsoft committed to offering a Choice Screen via Windows Update for a continuous five-year period. This meant that millions of users on XP, Vista, and Windows 7 (and later Windows 8) in the European Economic Area had the freedom to select their default browser rather than being automatically funneled into Internet Explorer.
  • Market Dynamics: By leveling the playing field, competitors like Firefox and later browsers could gain a foothold and encourage innovation. This helped push all browser developers to offer more user-centric features, which eventually benefitted the entire web browsing ecosystem.
  • Long-term Strategy: The decision was not just a short-term fix; it was a long-term commitment. The update was designed to extend to future operating systems, ensuring that the principle of choice would be embedded in Microsoft's ecosystem well into the Windows 8 era.
This regulatory move significantly influenced the software landscape, forcing a reexamination of default settings that many users take for granted today. It’s fascinating to see how an enforced policy change can lead to improved user experiences and greater market competition.
What are your thoughts on how this decision affected browser innovation in the long run? Have you noticed a shift in how defaults on operating systems influence user choices today?
 


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