EU Commission Announces Market Test of Microsoft Suggestions on Browser Choice, Interoperability

“Here’s Microsoft’s statement, glowing with happiness that their
two proposals, with some changes suggested in the last month or so
by the EU Commission, have basically been adopted, if the test
works out. And here’s Neelie Kroes’ blog with her announcement:

“Now the Commission has agreed to formally market test proposals
made by Microsoft that, if adopted, would offer current and future
users of Windows software in Europe a meaningful choice between
Internet Explorer and its competitors.

“Currently Windows users (most computer users) do not get an
upfront choice because Microsoft ties Internet Explorer to the
Windows PC operating system. Under the new proposal users would be
offered 12 browser options on a ‘choice screen’ appearing on their
computers. This is the sort of effective and unbiased choice we
have been looking for, so today is another positive step towards
this outcome.

“Are they pre-installed? Or only IE and you get to install any
alternative if you so choose? What do you think? You have to
download them. We all know how much people love to do that. Not.
OEMs can preinstall any browser as the default, but come on. What
do you think they’ll choose? What is the improvement? Letting
people know there are choices, I guess. That’s better than nothing.
But I can download any browser I want already. This is an
improvement in that IE can’t reassert control as the default,
unless you want it to.”

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