Windows to launch without Explorer

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} The next version of the Microsoft operating system Windows will launch in Europe without Internet Explorer, because of ongoing competition issues with the European Commission.   Instead, European customers will have to download a web browser for themselves, although Microsoft said it is planning to make it easy for them to obtain Explorer.   Windows 7 is due to be released worldwide on 22 October, and Dave Heiner, Microsoft deputy general counsel, said in a statement: "We're committed to making Windows 7 available in Europe at the same time that it launches in the rest of the world, but we also must comply with European competition law as we launch the product.   "We believe that this new approach, while not our first choice, is the best path forward given the ongoing legal case in Europe."   The European Commission remains suspicious about MicrosoftÔÇÖs intentions, however, and is sure to keep a close eye on how it goes about the launch.   The EC said it would have to consider ÔÇ£whether this initial step of technical separation of IE from Windows could be negated by other actions by Microsoft.   "In terms of potential remedies,ÔÇØ the Commission said in a statement responding to Microsoft's announcement, ÔÇ£if the Commission were to find that Microsoft had committed an abuse, the Commission has suggested that consumers should be offered a choice of browser, not that Windows should be supplied without a browser at all."   The EC said Microsoft's approach of offering the program to computer manufacturers "may potentially be more positive" in terms of remedying its alleged abusive behaviour.   In early 2008, Microsoft was fined Ôé¼899 million (┬ú765 million) by the European Commission for anti-competitive behaviour, because of the way it suppressed competition by bundling its media player and web browser into Windows.     *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *