Regulators in Europe said Tuesday they will watch closely to makesure Microsoft complies with its commitments to ensure competitionin the browser market, after Mozilla complained its Firefox browseris being excluded from Windows RT. However, the European Commission noted that an agreement it struckwith Microsoft in 2009 to regulate its behavior applied only to"client PCs," and it wasn't immediately clear if that incudestablets, one of the main targets for Windows RT. Mozilla protested last week that Windows RT, the version of Windows8 for devices that use ARM processors, restricts choice and might violate an agreement Microsoft struck with the Commission to resolve anantitrust probe of the company. Windows RT grants full access only to Internet Explorer (IE) andeffectively blocks other browsers from accessing importantfunctions, according to Mozilla. Its complaint was backed byGoogle, which makes the Chrome browser. "The Commission is aware of these allegations and will remainvigilant that Microsoft fully complies with its commitments underthe Commission's 2009 decision on browsers," Antoine Colombani, theCommission's spokesman for competition, said via email Tuesday. "This decision applies to Microsoft's Windows operating system forPCs," he added. E.U. antitrust regulators struck a deal with Microsoft at the end of 2009 , ending an antitrust investigation of its dominant position in thebrowser market. Since then, Microsoft has been required to display a ballot screenin Windows with links to other browsers including Google's Chromeand Mozilla's Firefox. The Commission wouldn't say Tuesday if it believes Microsoft isviolating the terms of the agreement. However, Colombani emphasizedthat the 2009 decision "doesn't go any further" than PCs. Windows RT is intended primarily for tablet devices, but the OSwill also be able to run on PCs that use ARM processors, according to Microsoft. Microsoft may have decided it's debatable whether the 2009 browseragreement applies to Windows RT, said Roger Kay, an analyst atEndpoint Technologies. That might be a risky bet, he added. "Ifthey are wrong then they basically will get their wrist slapped,"Kay said. Microsoft declined to comment Monday on whether it thinks it's required to offer a ballot screenin Windows RT. Microsoft's agreement (PDF here ) with the E.U. is legally binding and was set for five years.Microsoft could be fined up to 10 percent of its annual revenue ifit fails to comply. Loek covers all things tech for the IDG News Service. Follow him onTwitter at @loekessers or email tips and comments to loek_essers@idg.com. I am an expert from laptopacchargers.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Apple Laptop Chargers Manufacturer , China Acer Ac Adaptor, Dell Laptop Battery Chargers,and more.
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