The European Commission today said it will fine Microsoft $732 million (€561 million) after it broke its promise to inform Windows users about their browser choices. This leaves Microsoft’s own Internet Explorer in a privileged position, and that’s what worried Europe.
The European Union’s executive body said that Microsoft is the first company breaking such a voluntary agreement. In Microsoft’s case, it agreed to a 5-year agreement that was signed in 2009 and lasting into 2014.
Under it, Microsoft agreed to show a panel allowing users to choose their browser of choice when installing Windows afresh. This is estimated to inform some 15 million users about their browser options.
Today’s ruling applies for the desktop version of Windows, but we can’t help but wonder whether the European Union will take a similar approach for mobile. Right now, Android and iOS allow a free choice of browsers while Windows Phone cages users into using Internet Explorer only.
Victor, a seasoned mobile technology expert, has spent over a decade at PhoneArena, exploring the depths of mobile photography and reviewing hundreds of smartphones across Android and iOS ecosystems. His passion for technology, coupled with his extensive knowledge of smartphone cameras and battery life, has positioned him as a leading voice in the mobile tech industry.
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