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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. between the lines by yagu · · Score: 5, Informative

    Not to be overly paranoid, but this is Microsoft we're discussing, and this is Slashdot, but what are the "terms" to allow manufacturers to set any search engine as default? Manufacturers in the past, before the DOJ decision were allowed to ship computers with any operating system they chose. It's just that Microsoft provided strong incentives for them not to.

    While I like Microsoft's "allowance", considering past behavior, I'd rather they stipulate "with no strings attached", which wasn't stated explicitly. I know this post will bring me Flame/Troll mods, but fool me once...

    Fairness UPDATE: From this Seattle Times article are the words that bring the clarity I sought (emphasis mine):

    This includes specifics such as the freedom to add "icons, shortcuts and the like to the Windows Start menu and other places used to access software programs"; the ability for manufacturers to set non-Microsoft programs to be used by default; the ability to remove Microsoft programs like Explorer and Media Player and promote non-Microsoft programs exclusively; and business terms that protect manufacturers who go the non-Microsoft route from retaliation.

    This is good news!

  2. If MS drama was an MMORPG by voice_of_all_reason · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microsoft: Yeah, you can take this shortcut through our guildhall to the Orc Camp.
    You: Cool
    Microsoft: Now just sheath your sword and look straight ahead...
    You: Okay (starts walking)
    Without warning, Microsoft stabs you from behind!
    Microsoft massacres you with incredible force.
    Microsoft massacres you with incredible force.
    You are bleeding to death...

  3. 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.

  4. Lots more where that came from by ZachPruckowski · · Score: 5, Informative

    Unfortunately, this article seems to have only hit the tip of the iceberg. The full list of commitments is at an official MS site

    Now, I'm as realistic as the next guy, but these look pretty nice. The big ones are 5 and 9, which make it look like MS won't hit back against any manufacturer for bundling Linux on a desktop. It also allows for OEMs to remove WMP11 and IE7 from Vista if they'd rather bundle something else, or just bundle both, at no extra cost.