Microsoft allows rival browser, ends EU dispute

BRUSSELS: EU regulators accepted a pledge by Microsoft to allow rival Internet browsers on its systems, ending a long antitrust dispute with the US software maker. Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said millions of European consumers would benefit by being able to choose their browser and the decision would encourage web companies to innovate.

Microsoft will allow users to select from among 12 browsers including its own Internet Explorer, Mozilla’s Firefox, Apple’s Safari and Google’s Chrome on more than 100 million PCs from mid-March. The decision averted another penalty for Microsoft which has been fined 1.68 billion euros ($2.44 billion) by the European Commission for previous infringements of anti-competition rules.

The European Union executive said Microsoft’s legally binding pledge addressed its concerns that the company may have breached EU antitrust rules by bundling its Internet Explorer web browser with its dominant Windows operating system. Microsoft will also give computer makers the option to turn off Internet Explorer or install a rival browser, the Commission said.

Microsoft’s commitments will be valid in the European Economic Area for five years, the Commission said, ending its antitrust investigation, which was triggered by a complaint from Norwegian browser maker Opera.