Microsoft Makes European Browser Offer

Microsoft has made an offer to give browser choices in Windows 7 that is hopes will satisfy European regulators.

Last year Microsoft was fined $1.4 billion for anti-competitive practises, and the company can’t bundle Internet Explorer with its new Windows 7 OS in Europe, meaning users would need to install their own browser.

But it thinks it might have a solution to satisfy everyone.

It’s proposed having a drop-down list of potential browsers that will appear upon install of the OS, letting users "easily install competing web browsers, set one of those browsers as a default, and disable Internet Explorer."

Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith said:

"We believe that if ultimately accepted, this proposal will fully address the European competition law issues relating to the inclusion of Internet Explorer in Windows."

In response the European Commission noted:

"The Commission welcomes this proposal, and will now investigate its practical effectiveness in terms of ensuring genuine consumer choice."

The Commission added that Microsoft was offering to give more operability information about Windows to outside software makers.

Whatever happens with this, it will require a decision soon, as Windows 7 gooes on sale on October 22.