Browser Wars Never End - The EU Accuses Microsoft of Antitrust Charges

Posted on January 17, 2009 by Peter Vogel

Reports that the EU regulators have now formally accused Microsoft of antitrust charges for including Internet Explorer as part of the Windows operating system is hardly a surprise. Apparently in December 2007 the Opera Software the Norwegian browser developed filed a complaint with the EU that Microsoft violated EU antitrust laws. Opera’s 2007 complaint jump-started the EU’s Competition Commission and only a few months earlier Microsoft ceased appealing the EU’s 2004 antitrust violations related to the Media Player that included fines of $1.3 billion.

What Happens Next?

Microsoft has 8 weeks to respond to the EU why Internet Explorer should not be removed from the Windows operating system. But it seems clear that the EU wants Microsoft to change it marketing practices or risk more fines. Stay tuned for more rulings from the EU on these charges.

Historical Perspective

The Internet’s been around since the 1960’s as an academic research platform to help the space race in response to Russia launch of Sputnik in 1957. Until the browser was available the Internet was not user friendly. The Internet was a lot like MS-DOS before the advent of the mouse and GUI (graphic user interfaces) and using the Internet required users to know arcane and alien instructions. What changed the Internet and allowed it to take off was that Microsoft started giving away Internet Explorer with Windows in about 1995. Of course other browsers existed before 1995, but had it not been for Microsoft embedding Internet Explorer as part of Windows it is debatable whether the Internet would have taken off when it did and with such gusto.

Irony of Ironies

It seems ironic that Microsoft is now being penalized for including the Internet Explorer with Windows, since had Microsoft not embedded Internet Explorer with Windows in the mid 1990’s, the Internet may never had developed at the pace it has.
 

Tags: , , ,

Google's New Browser Chrome (Beta)

Posted on September 21, 2008 by Peter Vogel

When Google recently launched its beta version of the Chrome browser, it was at a point in time when Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (IE) had approximately 70% of the browser market (with Mozilla’s Firefox, Apple’s Safari, and Opera the other major players). Amazingly enough Google claimed that it captured 1% of the browser market with the initial launch the first day…and since this was Google pushing out another product, that’s probably a good guess. It seems that the statistics are difficult to assess, because all of these vendors offer their products free and because many users have multiple browsers loaded on their systems.

Did We Need a New Browser?

Google’s market power and built-in user base maybe more important than did we need a new browser. Nevertheless Google claims that they built Chrome using today’s tools, and don’t have any legacy system problems from old versions. Clearly a reference to Microsoft’s various versions of IE and Mozilla’s various versions of Firefox and previous versions of Mosiac. Now that Netscape dropped out of the browser market, at least that’s one less vendor. However, Netscape’s departure brings back memories of the Microsoft Antitrust lawsuit which started in the late 1990’s where the forced tie-in of IE to Windows helped prove Microsoft’s anticompetitive behavior.

Google Continues to Grow

Also Google claims that Chrome is faster, but of course most users would not be able to determine faster performance on most systems because there are so many other variables. As well, Google declares that Chrome has better security which is high on the list of most users. Chrome will likely be a success because Google seems to have a magic touch with marketing, and as well it does not take rocket science to conclude that using the Google search engine and tools could only be improved by using Google’s browser. Or at least that’s what Google would like its users to conclude!
 

Tags: ,