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Microsoft to Allow Competitive Search

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the slowly-coming-around dept.

Aviran Mordo writes to tell us Reuters is reporting that Microsoft is announcing a voluntary policy to help guide the development of Windows in the future. The policy, which Microsoft senior vice president Brad Smith said was 'committed to creating a transparent system that allows open competition,' will start by allowing other search engines like Google to be set by default.

4 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. Oh my! by kimvette · · Score: 4, Insightful
    "If a manufacturer wants to set competing search services ... by default, they can do so," Smith said in a speech at the New America Foundation, a Washington public policy institute.


    They're allowing OEM builders and end users to change some basic settings on their own computers? Oh my, how thoughtful of Microsoft! What's next, "allowing" system builders and users to install competitors' web browsers and office suites? "Allowing" system builders and users to change their wallpaper?

    I'm sorry, I just don't see anything groundbreaking in this "news." I read it more as spin on the fact that if they don't allow such settings to be changed, they'll find themselves in the antitrust hot seat again.
    --
    The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
    1. Re:Oh my! by McFadden · · Score: 5, Insightful
      >I'm sorry, I just don't see anything groundbreaking in this "news."


      I disagree. While it may be true that 'they should have been doing this all along', the fact that Microsoft (may) be allowing more free and open competition, including the actual removal of their own applications like IE, is pretty significant. You may be cynical about Microsoft, and rightfully so, but if Microsoft genuinely walks the walk, it would be a major redirection for their business strategy which up until now has thrived on exclusivity deals.

  2. No real change to mindset by EmbeddedJanitor · · Score: 4, Insightful
    That they use terms like "allow" still shows their arrogance, and that they really have not learnt how to play nice, and they really do need to get a smack down by the EU and DOJ.

    If they really want to show that they have learnt then they need to soften their position, as well as say things in a way that sounds at least half genuine.

    --
    Engineering is the art of compromise.
  3. #8 makes me wonder by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "8. Open Internet access. Microsoft will design and license Windows so that it does not block access to any lawful Web site or impose any fee for reaching any non-Microsoft Web site or using any non-Microsoft Web service."

    What did they have planned before?