14 DAY TRIAL // The browser-less E editions of Windows 7 aimed for European markets could get Internet Explorer 8 after all, a move that would effectively contribute to killing off the EU-tailored editions prematurely. Last week, Microsoft submitted a proposal to the European Antitrust Commission involving the integration of a browser ballot with the fully-fledged editions of Windows 7, complete with the Internet Explorer 8 component. Via the browser ballot, users would be able to choose whether they want to use IE8, or any other competitive product. Below you will be able to find a screenshot with the Windows 7 browser ballot for users in the EU, courtesy of Microsoft.
“Under our new proposal, among other things, European consumers who buy a new Windows PC with Internet Explorer set as their default browser would be shown a ‘ballot screen’ from which they could, if they wished, easily install competing browsers from the Web. If this proposal is ultimately accepted, Microsoft will ship Windows in Europe with the full functionality available in the rest of the world. As requested by the Commission, we will be publishing our proposal in full here on our website as soon as possible,” revealed Brad Smith, General Counsel and Senior Vice President, Microsoft.
The Redmond-based company has not killed off the Windows 7 E flavors just yet. Fact is that only after the browser ballot proposal is accepted will the software giant ship the complete version of Windows Vista's successor in Europe. But until the European Commission makes a decision, Microsoft will continue shipping Windows 7 E to original equipment manufacturers in Europe.
"We currently are providing PC manufacturers in Europe with E versions of Windows 7, which we believe are fully compliant with European law. PCs manufacturers building machines for the European market will continue to be required to ship E versions of Windows 7 until such time that the Commission fully reviews our proposals and determines whether they satisfy our obligations under European law. If the Commission approves this new proposal, Microsoft will begin work at that time to begin implementation of it with PC manufacturers,” Smith stated.
At the start of this year, the European antitrust regulators indicated that they had found the Internet Explorer – Windows bundle illegal. In order to comply with the European antitrust law, Microsoft announced the E SKUs of Windows 7, stripped off IE8 entirely. In a statement, the EU Commission noted that it “welcomes this proposal, and will now investigate its practical effectiveness in terms of ensuring genuine consumer choice.”
