EU warns Microsoft over delivery of new operating system

The European Commission (EC) on Friday warned U.S. software giant Microsoft over its planned delivery of the new Windows operating system, Vista.

The commission said it had been informed of Microsoft's intention to deliver its Vista operating system worldwide, with no delay in Europe.

Microsoft said earlier on Friday that it would release the new system to its volume license customers around the world in November, and to individual users in January.

"The commission has not given a 'green light' to Microsoft to deliver Vista," said executive body of the European Union in a statement.

Microsoft must shoulder its own responsibilities to ensure that Vista is fully compliant with European Union competition rules and in particular with the March 2004 commission anti-trust decision, the statement said.

In the decision, Microsoft was found to have used its dominant market position and was fined 497 million euros (624 million U.S. dollars). The software giant was also ordered to provide competitors with technical interface information to allow them to make products that are inter-operable with Microsoft Windows.

In July 2006, the commission again fined Microsoft 280.5 million euros (352 million dollars) for non-compliance with the March 2004 decision.

"In line with the commission's obligations under the EC Treaty and its practice, the commission will closely monitor the effects of Vista in the market and, in particular, examine any complaints concerning Vista on their own merits," said the statement.

Source: Xinhua