Microsoft offers a choice to Windows users

After being fined billions, Microsoft has announced that it is to offer Windows users in Europe a browser choice screen. This choice screen which the Guardian has named the “browser ballot”, will make it easier for users to choose an alternative browser. This is required as a settlement agreed with European Commission’s competition department in December 2009. 

  Picture credit: Mashable

Microsoft’s web browser choice screen will present users with a screen showing a range of browsers (Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, IE, Opera). Users will be able to click a button to install whichever browser they prefer, or ask for more information about the browser. It could be tested as early as next week in UK, Belgium and France, and will be introduced in 30 European countries next month.

Windows users have always been able to download alternative browsers, and they have increasingly been adopting these, Firefox proving the most popular. However, others such as Opera, who’s complaints were the basis of the EU case, will be more visible to users, but will still not be competing on a level playing field.

 

Although users in the EU have always had this choice, some have never thought about which browser they are using, and this could be an important step towards helping these users understand and be more aware about the control they should take over their online lives.

 

This undoubtedly presents these alternative web browsers with a unique marketing opportunity, however, how much this browser choice screen will influence users to adopt a different browser is not apparent right now but it will be interesting to see how it unfolds.

Comments

[Flex]

Average user knows IE and prob likes it. Techy users juggle firefox, chrome, opera etc...

Hmm... so firefox has 20% share, they're soon to be shafted by Chrome (Google accounts for like 80% of their revenue -doubts they will continue to do so now they have their own browser) Opera heads up the back unknown to those outside tech circles.

So has the EU commission helped the consumer or just helped Google with their marketing efforts?

[Jennifer]

I think you might be right Flex, we'll see what Google do with this opportunity. I am however, expecting Opera to do something radical as they were the ones that raised the complaints to begin with. Thanks for the comment.