Internet Explorer switch-off plans may not satisfy regulators
Microsoft has confirmed reports that Windows 7 users will be able to switch off Internet Explorer. But the option will not be part of the set-up process, meaning the firm could still run into problems with European regulators.
As Blorge’s Michael Jones reported at the weekend, Windows 7 includes an options menu to turn various features in the system on and off. Two bloggers noticed that the list includes Internet Explorer 8.
Microsoft has since confirmed this is an intentional move, though perhaps unsurprisingly its explanation makes no reference to the firm’s troubles with European regulators who are exploring claims that the inclusion of Internet Explorer as the default browser breaches competition laws.
The list of features which can be turned on or off also includes Windows Media Player, Media Center and DVD Maker. The Microsoft explanation is that it has reclassified such programs as features rather than integral parts of the operating system. Users who decide they don’t need to use these programs can turn them off and thus prevent them loading in to memory upon start-up. However, the relevant files will remain on the hard drive, meaning they can be switched back on at any time without the user needing the installation disc.
The news comes as Microsoft acknowledges that an ongoing European Union investigation might wind up with the firm being forced to give users a choice of browser during set-up. That’s not happening with Windows 7 as things stand. The firm notes:
As we balanced feedback, the vast majority of feedback we have received was to streamline setup and to reduce the amount of potential complexity in getting a PC running. We chose to focus this feature on the post-setup experience for Windows 7.
Microsoft will likely hope that, even if it loses the European case, the Windows 7 solution is acceptable to regulators. Neil Barratt, who was the EU’s monitor of Microsoft’s competition behaviour until last week, has already welcomed the changes. But it’s still possible the EU will insist Microsoft change the Windows set-up process so that Internet Explorer is never installed in the first place unless the user specifically requests it.
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March 10th, 2009
The main question here is if EU sees Trident as part of Internet Explorer.
March 12th, 2009
No one cares about European users anyway.
They need to stop being babies. You need a way to download firefox or whatever you use in the first place.
You need it for a lot of sites these days.