14 DAY TRIAL // Although in the wake of the July financial penalty imposed on Microsoft by the European Commission, representatives from the Redmond Company have stated that the 280.5 million euros fine won't impact the release of the operating system, this aspect suffered alterations as the US software giant discussed a potential Windows Vista delay in Europe.
Microsoft has stated that there is an intimate dependency between the European release date of Windows Vista and the European Commission's antitrust requirements. The latter reacted abruptly to Microsoft's actions considering their position misleading as the Redmond Company attempted "to imply that the Commission could be the cause of delays in launching Vista in Europe." Microsoft has introduced a suite of proposals concerning its upcoming operating system to the Commission and stated that the response could generate the delay of Windows Vista in the context of additional competition related measures. "Once we receive the Commission's response, we will know whether the Commission is seeking additional product design changes that would result in delay in Europe," said Microsoft.
"It is up to Microsoft to accept and implement its responsibilities as a near monopolist to ensure full compliance with EU competition rules and in particular the prohibition on abuse of a dominant market position," replied a spokesman for EU competition commissioner Neelie Kroes.
Additionally, Microsoft has been granted support from European parliament members. Chris Heaton-Harris, a British Conservative MEP, Peter Skinner, a UK deputy from the Labour Party, Sharon Bowles and Michal Kaminski signed a letter addressed to the European Commission expressing their concern regarding a potential delay of Windows Vista. "It is alarming that one of the world's most successful technology companies considers the European Commission's attitude a risk factor," the letter read.