Brussels, 22/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 21 February, Microsoft announced it was increasing its efforts to promote interoperability between some of its products and the software of its rivals. The Commission, however, remains concerned and repeated its criticisms, particularly of “tied sales” methods, and the lack of compatibility of Windows components.
Microsoft announced several measures, including improving communication possibilities between Microsoft software and that of competitors. These measures are to be applied to the range of “high volume business products” including the Windows server software and the Office software range (Word, Excel, etc).
The Commission noted Microsoft's announcement, but was anything but jubilant. In a press release, it said that the statement did not relate to past offences and “follows at least four similar statements by Microsoft in the past on the importance of interoperability”.
In September 2007, the Court of First Instance found against Microsoft on two counts: the lack of interoperability of the Windows server system which links a number of computers' “workgroups”; and the tied selling of the Windows operating system and Media Player (see EUROPE 9503).
What Microsoft has announced is in response to the first decision: the company has undertaken to publish online 30,000 pages of technical information explaining how its software interacts. It will also say which protocols are protected by copyright, which it will put at the disposal of rivals under “reasonable and non-discriminatory terms”.
In addition to constant concerns over tied selling, the Commission is opening two further procedures against Microsoft: on the interoperability of Office software, and on the tied selling of Windows with Internet Explorer (see EUROPE 9580). Microsoft, however, is promising more information on Office over the coming months. Microsoft General Counsellor Brad Smith also undertook to address the “remaining portion of the Court of First Instance decision” (i.e. tied selling) over the coming weeks. Does this announcement mean great change within the world's top computing company? Its competitors share the Commission's scepticism. “The interoperability devil is always in the technical and commercial detail,” said Thomas Vinje, counsellor and spokesman for ECIS (European Committee for Interoperable Systems).
The Microsoft announcement can be found at the following internet address:
http: //http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/feb08/02-21ExpandInteroperabilityPR.mspx (C.D.)