European versions of Windows 7 will be without Internet Explorer

    Microsoft plans to remove Internet Explorer from versions of Windows 7 that will be sold in Europe due to problems with antitrust laws. The choice of the supplied browser will remain with computer manufacturers.

    According to AT Internet Institute studies in Europe, the prevalence for IE is 59.5%, for Firefox 31.1%. Opera has 5 percent, and Safari 2.5%. IE losses for the period from April to November 2008 amounted to 5%.

    Truncated Windows 7 "E" will be sold in the European Union, as well as in Croatia and Switzerland. Microsoft will also remove its browser from the European versions of Windows 7 "N", which do not have Windows Media Player.

    For computer manufacturers, Microsoft will offer a free “IE 8 pack”, which allows you to return IE back to the system, which can also be important for ordinary Windows 7 buyers, since the lack of a browser will not provide a direct opportunity to download an alternative.

    via CNET (I recommend reading the original).

    Microsoft's official statement

    Update : The topic has evolved - Removing IE from Windows could make things worse - EU .

    Also popular now: