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Microsoft to include browser ballot screen in Europe

Posted on 3rd August 2009 at 4:10 pm by Ian Macfarlane

In a reversal of its previous decision to remove Internet Explorer from Windows in Europe, Microsoft has announced that it is set to introduce a "ballot screen" system instead.

Following a complaint from web browser maker Opera, Microsoft was accused by the EU of harming competition by bundling the Internet Explorer web browser with Windows.

Microsoft's initial response was to unilaterally declare that it would remove Internet Explorer from Windows, and ship the operating system without a web browser. However, Microsoft has since changed its stance and has announced that it now plans to introduce a “consumer ballot screen” instead.

Microsoft has now provided more information about how this ballot screen will work. Here's what is now being planned (subject to regulatory approval).

Shortly after a new Windows PC is set up by the user, Microsoft will update it over the Internet with the ballot software. If Internet Explorer is set as the default browser, the user will see a ballot screen like this:

Microsoft's browser ballot screen mock-up

As you can see, this would include a number of competitor web browsers, including Mozilla Firefox, Apple's Safari browser, Google Chrome, and Opera.

One of the surprises in this announcement is that it will apply to existing users as well – this ballot screen will also be displayed to users of Windows XP or Windows Vista who have Internet Explorer set as their default web browser. If this happens, it could lead to a noticeable one-off drop in Microsoft Internet Explorer market share as all of the Internet Explorer users in Europe are asked if they would like to change their web browser.

As the ballot screen will be delivered over the Internet, this means that the version of Windows being shipped in the EU can now be the same as that shipped worldwide. Consequently, Microsoft will kill off the European “Windows 7 E” edition. It is not yet clear what will happen to those who have already pre-ordered it.

This new proposed solution still requires approval by the EU - however, the EU has reacted favourably to the proposal, so the end of this legal case may be in sight.

File under: antitrust microsoft browsers