Windows 7 Report Microsoft trying to settle EC an

[englishg9o]

Bloomberg reported on July seven that Microsoft is trying to arrive to a settlement with European antitrust officials more than two antitrust issues pending inside the European Union.Microsoft officials aren;t commenting around the report. But it;s certainly a believable 1,Buy Office 2010, offered the potentially big fine and far-reaching “remedies” that the European Commission (EC) is believed to be preparing against the Redmond software maker.The Bloomberg report claims Microsoft is trying to settle the case before EU Competition CommissionerNeelie Kroes steps down at the end of this year.From the Bloomberg report:“Any agreement would have to resolve a case more than Microsoft’s Internet browser as well as a separate investigation into word processing and spreadsheet software,Office 2007 Professional, said the people,Purchase Office 2010, who declined to be identified because the talks are confidential.”The browser case mentioned is the Opera browser-tying case. EC regulators have issued prelimary findings in that matter which have indicated that they plan to appear down hard on Microsoft for stifling competiting by tying Internet Explorer to Windows. Opera brought the suit against Microsoft in December 2007.The EC had been asking hardware makers about 1 possible remedy — offering users a “ballot screen” via which they;d select which browser they;d prefer to install when setting up a new Windows machine. IE would be 1 of a number of unspecified options. Microsoft officials have made it clear they are dead-set against a browser ballot and,Microsoft Office Standard 2007, instead,Buy Office 2010, have announced intentions to offer 1 and only one version of Windows in Europe (Windows 7E) which would not include any browser or links to any.The other antitrust matter that Microsoft reportedly is interested in settling involves its Office suite and how Microsoft has handled Open Document Format (ODF) compliance there. EC investigators indicated earlier this year they were studying that issue.Would a settlement support Microsoft;s Windows 7E proposal or scuttle it? Would it include a fine? No word so significantly on what;s around the table….