Microsoft has reversed course on a proposal to offer a version of Windows 7 in Europe without Internet Explorer after PC makers and partners said the move could confuse customers.
Microsoft and the European Commission recently stepped up efforts to resolve their longstanding legal dispute. As part of the effort, Microsoft initially offered to ship a version in Europe called Windows 7 E that wouldn't include IE, but the EC complained that this could cause difficulties for customers that buy the product through retail as opposed to pre-installed on new PCs.
The EC indicated its preference for Windows 7 customers to be able to select a Web browser of their choice through a so-called "ballot screen." Microsoft, after some hemming and hawing, officially proposed the ballot idea, which would include IE as an option. The EC, in turn, said it welcomed Microsoft's proposal.
However, after gathering feedback from its industry partners, Microsoft now says the Windows 7 version it ships in Europe will be the same one it ships to the rest of the world.
"We're now confident that shipping Windows 7 with IE in Europe -- as we will in the rest of the world -- is the right thing to do for our partners and for our customers," wrote Dave Heiner, vice president and deputy general counsel for Microsoft, in a blog post late last week.
According to Heiner, PC makers felt confusion would reign if Microsoft were to start offering Windows 7 E and then replace it later on with a Windows 7 version that includes IE.
If the EC approves its ballot screen proposal, Microsoft says it'll deliver a ballot screen update to Windows 7, XP and Vista users in Europe that'll give them the option of selecting from a list of Web browsers. If the EC declines the proposal, Heiner said Microsoft could change its mind again and proceed with the Windows 7 E plan.
