14 DAY TRIAL // Google is not completely happy with the alterations that Microsoft plans to introduce to Windows Vista following the availability of the first service pack for the operating system. The Redmond Company's Windows Omerta was broken by a routine legal filing from the U.S. Justice Department, following complains from Google in relation to the search mechanism built into Windows Vista. Although Microsoft has only offered a few crumbs so far associated with its plans for Vista SP1, the Justice Department revealed a set of modifications that will be introduced to the platform, and the availability date for the SP1 beta.
The Mountain View search giant alleged that the desktop search built into Windows Vista was anti-competitive, and that its own product, Google Desktop, was hurt by the conflicts with the indexing functionality of Microsoft's latest operating system, degrading user experience. Microsoft announced that it will introduce changes to Vista with the first service pack in order to better accommodate rival desktop search solutions.
"Through a constructive and ongoing dialogue, the Department, the state Attorneys General, and the District of Columbia continue to ensure that Microsoft complies with all of its obligations under the final judgments," Assistant Attorney General Thomas Barnett stated. "In addition to reaching an agreement with Microsoft to resolve any issues about desktop search under the final judgments, the antitrust division has worked to ensure that Microsoft fully discloses and provides complete technical documentation for all protocols covered by the decrees."
While Google welcomed the news, the search giant's senior vice president and chief legal officer David Drummond, revealed that Google's official position is that there is room for more Vista modifications. "Microsoft's current approach to Vista desktop search clearly violates the consent decree and limits consumer choice. We are pleased that as a result of Google's request that the consent decree be enforced, the Department of Justice and state Attorneys General have required Microsoft to make changes to Vista. These remedies are a step in the right direction, but they should be improved further to give consumers greater access to alternate desktop search providers."