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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.

3 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. Let the bidding begin! by I'm+Don+Giovanni · · Score: 4, Interesting

    That's all well and good, and I imagine that OEMs will offer the default media player, search engine, browser, etc to the highest bidder.

    However, to be fair, Microsoft should not be prohibited from being one of those bidders. For example, if Google, Firefox, and Real offer Dell millions to make Google, Firefox, and Real the default search, browser, and media player, respectively, Microsoft should be allowed to outbid Google, Firefox, and/or Real to make Live.com, IE, and WMP the default search, browser, and/or media player.

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    -- "I never gave these stories much credence." - HAL 9000
    1. Re:Let the bidding begin! by drinkypoo · · Score: 3, Interesting
      However, to be fair, Microsoft should not be prohibited from being one of those bidders.

      The whole reason that we have these restrictions against microsoft, and judgements that match, is that they are a monopoly. The reason they are getting fined etc. is that they are aggressively protecting their monopoly status. Your suggestion would be a step backwards. We do not treat monopolies like other companies, because monopolies are harmful to the entire market.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  2. Re:Oh my! by megaditto · · Score: 3, Interesting
    fact that Microsoft (may) be allowing more free and open competition, including the actual removal of their own applications like IE, is pretty significant.


    Exactly as significant as a prison warden allowing the inmates to request an uninstall of toilets and beds from their cells!

    Absolutely no 'good will" on Microsoft's part; they are just electing the lesser evil: open up a little, or lose customers to KDE/Gnome and get sued to boot. What IS significant here is that Microsoft apparently feels threatened.
    --
    Obama likes poor people so much, he wants to make more of them.