Microsoft now offering a choice of internet browser
What changes has Microsoft made?
The European Union's Competition Commission and Microsoft have reached an agreement to offer users of the Windows operating systems a choice of which internet browser to use. This proposal comes after years of legal battle, with Europe taking the view that Microsoft were using their position of monopoly power to the detriment of competitors.
Microsoft's proposal would allow Windows 7 to ship with Internet Explorer, but hardware providers could add any additional browsers as they saw fit, saving users the hassle of a download. There would also be a user dialogue screen which would prompt an answer to which browser the client wants to use.
What does this mean to me?
From March 1st 2010 European users will be able to choose which browser to use, selecting from: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple's Safari, Opera, or Internet Explorer.
The browser choice will arrive via an update for Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users, according to a Microsoft blog post.
In reality this is already the case, as PC users are able to download any of the above browsers by simply visiting the vendor's websites, so the move is largely a political one with little effect on user's experiences in the commercial market.
What's a browser, and how do I know what browsers I have installed, and which are most important to my business?
Internet browsers are software applications that allow you to surf the internet. If you are running a Microsoft Windows based computer you can tell which applications you have installed by looking at the control panel. The list of main browser applications is provided above, although other specialist browsers are available for features such as brail and text only users.
What should I do next?
There is no need for you to do anything. If you use a Windows based computer any changes will be available as part of Windows Update.
How much will it cost?
There is no charge for the updates from Microsoft, and the browsers listed above are all available for nothing from the individual vendors.
How long will it take?
You are able to download any of these browsers now. Microsoft has not yet disclosed when the automated updates will be available.
Your choice of browser is very largely a personal and commercial one, and will most likely be decided by your IT support providers.
Published : 23/12/2010 09:42