News

EU Concerned Windows Vista Could Break Antitrust Rules

Investigation not pending, but commission wonders about integration of new features that can put Microsoft back into antitrust violation.

(Brussels, Belgium) -- EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes has written to Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer to outline EU concerns that Windows Vista could break antitrust rules, said EU spokesman Jonathan Todd.

Todd said regulators were worried that Vista's new functions would mean customers would not be offered a real choice on software packages.

"We're concerned about the possibility that the next Vista operating system will include various elements which are currently available separately from Microsoft or other companies," he told reporters.

He highlighted Vista's integrated Internet search, digital rights management and software that would create fixed document formats comparable to Adobe's .PDF.

There is no investigation into Vista at this stage, he said.

Featured

  • World Map Image

    Microsoft Taps Nebius in $17B AI Infrastructure Deal To Alleviate Cloud Strain

    Microsoft has signed a five-year, $17.4 billion agreement with Amsterdam-based Nebius Group to expand its AI computing capabilities through third-party GPU infrastructure.

  • Microsoft Brings Copilot AI Into Viva Engage

    Microsoft 365 Copilot in Viva Engage is now generally available, extending Copilot's AI-powered assistant capabilities deeper into the Viva platform.

  • MIT Finds Only 1 in 20 AI Investments Translate into ROI

    Despite pouring billions into generative AI technologies, 95 percent of businesses have yet to see any measurable return on investment.

  • Report: Cost, Sustainability Drive DaaS Adoption Beyond Remote Work

    Gartner's 2025 Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service reveals that while secure remote access remains a key driver of DaaS adoption, a growing number of deployments now focus on broader efficiency goals.