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Microsoft cocks a snook at the EU
June 12, 2009
Posted by: Glyn Moody
Whatever you think of the European Commission's investigation of Microsoft for possible anti-competitive behaviour in the browser sector, it's well worth watching the spectacle of the two slugging it out. Here's Microsoft latest move, and it's a classic:
Microsoft said Thursday it will make a separate version of the Windows 7 computer operating software for Europe that does not include its Internet Explorer Web browser, as it tries to head off another antitrust scuffle with regulators there.
This is, of course, intentionally useless – it's like selling a bicycle without any wheels. It's designed to make the product as unattractive as possible, so that Microsoft can then point to its market failure as proof that the European Commission was completely misguided in its actions.
It's also a complete red herring. The problem is not that users cannot install other browsers, it's that Internet Explorer is woven into so many other aspects of the Windows platform that doing without it is difficult (for example, in South Korea, the almost universal use of ActiveX controls makes Internet Explorer indispensable for banking and many other everyday operations).
What the the EU should do – and may even be trying to do – is to produce a level playing field so that browsers can compete on their merits. This is actually *good* for Microsoft, as the rise of Firefox has shown: it forces the company to innovate, which, in turn, is good for users.
Microsoft's gambit is highly entertaining, but let no one be fooled: it's only the first move in what will doubtless prove and long and complicated regulatory chess match.
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Glyn Moody Glyn Moody's look at all levels of the enterprise open source stack. The blog will look at the organisations that are embracing open source, old and new alike (start-ups welcome), and the communities of users and developers that have formed around them (or not, as the case may be).
Comments received
Simon said on Friday, 12 June 2009
And how can users download Firefox if IE isn't on there to begin with?
Glyn Moody said on Friday, 12 June 2009
Exactly.
Tricky said on Friday, 12 June 2009
There is this something called "offline" world...and it brings CDs with software on it, even browser ;)
Glyn Moody said on Friday, 12 June 2009
...or we could just engrave hieroglyphics on stones and send them by camel.
Ivan said on Saturday, 13 June 2009
I see new MS tactics:
- I can see them placing the install_ie8.exe on the desktop
- If they're not allowed to do that, I see them putting install_ie8.exe on a CD that comes with the PC and a document on the desktop "How do I connect to the Internet?.rtf" and inside it says put that CD in, it will auto-run...
- if that not be allowed either, then inside the doc on the desktop it says something like: "Click Start>run type: cmd hit <enter> then download IE8 by entering this line of code ... "
MS will not make it easy for one of the most important bits of middleware the PC has ever known to slip from it's grasp. They will continue to put pressure on PC manufacturerrs to NOT add the installs to other browsers in their OEM packs. They will do their level best to get IE8 installed as the first browser ... and we all know: most users once they have a browser, who needs another, or a better, because necessity is out the window so choice at that point is of little relevance.
Ivan said on Saturday, 13 June 2009
To that aim, they need to get the word out, look at the new MS tactic:
download IE8, it's for charity ...
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10...j=BeyondBinary
Quote:
Artists put the finishing touches on a replica of the Golden Gate Bridge constructed from soup cans. The stunt was aimed at drawing awareness to Microsoft's Browser for the Better campaign, in which the software maker is donating to a food bank for each download of Internet Explorer 8.
(Credit: Microsoft) /quote
Glyn Moody said on Saturday, 13 June 2009
@Ivan: I don't think they'd be allowed to stick the installer on the desktop - that would simply guarantee IE is installed. If they want to go that route, then they have to accept the menu of options on startup...which they won't...
Ivan said on Saturday, 13 June 2009
Agreed, and similarly: If they tried selling Win7 hobbled to such a degree as to make the Win7 experience usesless (Win will still be operational, but the apps that rely in the internal HTML renderer will be affected) then they put themselves in line for incredible backlash.
The only reason they could coast through the fiasco called Vista is because it's leveraged (MS Office nets them >= 75% ROI, which pays the bonuses and fines.) The question then is: can they coast another just to stick it to the EC? They won't. Too much brand equity at stake. Some stats claim it costs up to 12x more to win BACK a client, than it did the first time. Their coffers are not that big.
Glyn Moody said on Saturday, 13 June 2009
Indeed: and the European Commission has shown that it is more than happy to slap 10-digit fines on Microsoft - at a time when Microsoft's spare funds are probably lower than they have been for decades.