EU uneasy about Microsoft Vista
The European Commission has once again expressed concerns about Microsoft’s competition on the Computer Market but Microsoft says that they have let rivals be involved in the developing of the new Windows Vista operating system, read the full story below.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission said Wednesday it told Microsoft that it has competition worries about the firm’s new Vista operating system, another antitrust concern that the software giant must answer in Europe.
Microsoft (Research) is already embroiled in a long-running battle with Europe’s top antitrust body after the Commission decided in 2004 that the company had abused the dominance of its Windows system and fined it 500 million ($604.2 million).
“We are concerned about the possibility that the next Vista operating system will include various elements which are currently available separately from Microsoft or other companies,” European Commission spokesman Jonathan Todd said.
He said although there is no formal investigation into this issue, the Commission expects Microsoft to react. The EU executive will open separate proceedings against the company should it find that the operating system broke competition laws.
“We assume Microsoft has its own interest at heart and it wants to launch another product without having to worry about the Commission instituting various actions under antitrust law because of this product,” Todd told a news briefing.
Microsoft released a statement Wednesday saying it has made a big effort to help competitors develop products that will work with its new Windows Vista operating system.
“Keeping the industry and regulators informed of our product development plans has been, and will remain, a priority,” the U.S. software giant said in a statement.
“We have worked hard to include partners and competitors in our planning so they can build products and services that work with Windows Vista,” it said.
The software company faces a 2 million ($2.4 million) daily fine for what the Commission says are delays in implementing the remedies set under the 2004 decision.
On Thursday and Friday, it has a last chance to stop the Commission from fining it and in April it launches its appeal against the original decision.
The EU’s new concerns follow Microsoft’s announcement last week that it will delay the release of Vista until January due to a need for more tests of the software.