EC to decide Microsoft's fate by mid-July

The European Commission may take until the middle of July to decide whether to impose on Microsoft a daily fine of 2 million euros, about $2.6 million.

Europe's commissioners will meet for the last time sometime before the summer break on July 19. A commission representative told journalists Tuesday that this was the latest date on which a decision could be taken on the fine, which follows a landmark 2004 antitrust ruling.

Commission sources later confirmed that a decision could be taken earlier and denied that July 19 was inked in as D-Day for the Commission's ongoing battle with the software giant. "We've always been saying that we'll make a decision before the summer," one insider said.

In 2004, the Commission ruled that Microsoft had failed to allow rivals to compete fairly in the server software market and had stifled competition by bundling its Media Player with Windows.

Microsoft has since launched a version of its operating system without Media Player and released server interoperability protocols for license--although this has failed to impress some critics.

At an appeal held in April, Microsoft argued that it should not be fined, claiming it has complied with the 2004 ruling.

Graeme Wearden of ZDNET UK reported from London.

[Captain_Spock]

Why Do Those In The EU....

... appear to be so "clueless" when just today GOOGLE has shown the world how to collaborate in real-time by offering its "GOOGLE SPREADSHEETS". A lesson here for EU and other folks who wish to be competitive - in the fast-paced IT world in which businesses now operate - either you lead, follow the leaders or drop out of the competition... Gosh, why would I want to travel to the Caribbean in 2007 onboard the "A380" to see "WORLD CUP CRICKET" when the runways in the Caribbean cannot facilitate its landing. Geez... the "CONCORDE" might just about made it; and, who says one cannot afford to fly onboard the "CONCORDE" with all those projected cost savings - compliments of the competitive "GOOGLE SPREADSHEETS!

Re: "Google Spreadsheets turns up heat on Excel"

"Google is set to launch on Tuesday a Web-based spreadsheet program that will allow people to view and simultaneously edit data while conducting "in-document" chat, a company product manager said Monday."

http://news.com.com/Google+Spreadsheets+turns+up+heat+on+Excel/2100-1032_3-6080223.html?tag=nefd.top

Who needs to bother about "Microsoft" at this point in time! Are there any office space in the EU to establish some GOOGLE like "SERVER" FARMS!

[Captain_Spock]

Why The EU... Their Numbers Just Do Not Add Up...

... to the almost two billion Chinese and Indian, added to the almost 900 nationals from the Americas that do not have a "problem" with the US company based in Redmond wishing to develop its products in whatever, which way. The the curious mind it could only be one question - and that is, a subtle attempt to "impose" some sort of "ideology" (State Control) that is being practiced in some countries from time to time. Geez... how soon we forget that "concrete" barriers can sometimes become the gravel from which they are made! The same forces that has shown the "GOOGLES" of America how to compete with the US based company operating out of Redmond will also liberate the EU masses!