European Committee for Interoperable Systems (ECIS) now comes with strong criticism against Microsoft's proposed solution where Windows 7 users are given the opportunity to choose which browser they use, through a so-called "Ballot screen.
- The problem is that users who try to choose something other than Internet Explorer are threatening warnings and confusing questions, "said Thomas Vinje.
Opera Software, Mozilla and Google are all members of the trade association, which has the status of an official party with the right input in the EU's ongoing investigation against Microsoft.
Software Giant proposed in late July to give 7-Windows users to download competitors' browsers, in an attempt to sweeten the European Commission.
The Norwegian browser company liked the proposal, which they thought was interesting, but noted that they had to study the solution closer.
- We are followers of the users are offered a selection page [ "Ballot screen"], but to implement this by using Internet Explorer will not restore competition. This view is shared by all browser-players, "says CTO Håkon Wium Lie, Opera Software to Bloomberg.
Opera Software complained in December 2007 the Microsoft in violation of European competition laws, and asked the EU separate Internet Explorer from Windows.
In January 2009 opened the EU case against Microsoft, and demanded that the company would offer other browsers in its operating system.
The European Commission has expressed a desire to settle the matter soon. It is urgent if the party will number to reach agreement before Windows 7 officially launched in just over three weeks.
Microsoft would in turn come to an agreement to avoid further fines from the EU. Only since 2004, the software giant has had to endure over two billion in fines from the EU as a result of violations of European competition laws.
