Microsoft Threatens Startups Over Account Info

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Saturday January 19, 2008 @01:33AM from the strong-arm-of-the-law dept.

HangingChad writes "According to Fortune, there are reports that Microsoft is trying to strong arm startups to give preferential treatment to MSN Messenger and are using account information as leverage. 'If the company wants to offer other IM services (from Yahoo, Google or AOL, say), Messenger must get top billing. And if the startup wants to offer any other IM service, it must pay Microsoft 25 cents a user per year for a site license.' Of course, if the company is willing to use Messenger exclusively 'fee will be discounted 100 percent.' Getting detailed information is difficult as many of the companies being approached are afraid of reprisals."

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According to Fortune? by atmelinside · 2008-01-19 02:52 · Score: 0, Offtopic

Fortune says many different things. Let's see:
$ /usr/games/fortune
In most countries selling harmful things like drugs is punishable. Then howcome people can sell Microsoft software and go unpunished? -- Hasse Skrifvars, hasku@rost.abo.fi,
All your Word(s) by flyingfsck · 2008-01-19 05:36 · Score: 0, Offtopic

All your Word(s) are belong to us. Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated. Bow before your god! Hmmm, they all apply quite nicely to MS.

--
Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!