Microsoft is set to deliver a new Windows Vista build - possibly Build No. 5506 - to testers some time in the next few days, according to Vista testers who asked not to be named. The forthcoming build will embed links to a number of Microsoft's Windows Live services. Microsoft is gunning to release the new build some time the week of August 14, testers said. That build may be 5506 or a slightly later build, they said. On a related note, two of Microsoft's security patches this month are for Vista.
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Member since:2005-07-26
> Do you really believe this wasn't approved by the board assigned to monitor MS on antitrust issues? Also third-parties have never had a problem competing with MS in the past despite lack of inclusion in the OS as long as their product was good, and this isn't unprecented.
They have already approved too much (IE, WMP etc), and I wouldn't trust the board on this. A company that has a monopoly status shouldn't be allowed to promote its other products or formats. A good example of monopoly overuse is WMV, DOC, IE_HTML which are default choice to redistribute matrials among 3rd party vendors, not because of thier quality, but because they come pre-installed on over 90% of customer's machines.
Edited 2006-08-18 18:22
Member since:2005-07-06
They have already approved too much (IE, WMP etc), and I wouldn't trust the board on this. A company that has a monopoly status shouldn't be allowed to promote its other products or formats. A good example of monopoly overuse is WMV, DOC, IE_HTML which are default choice to redistribute matrials among 3rd party vendors, not because of thier quality, but because they come pre-installed on over 90% of customer's machines.
Customers have had no problems finding products such as Google, Firefox, Quicktime, etc., despite those products not shipping with the OS. Also, neither IE nor WMP (sans EU case) were subject to exclusion as their benefits outweighed any damage to competition in their respective markets (and WMP still lacks a majority of its market). DOC is part of Office, which is not included in Windows and was not part of the antitrust case at all. The case was about the x86-compatible client OS market (oh so narrow).
Antitrust is about consumer, not competitor benefit. You can't foster competition by crippling the OS, taking MS' IP, or excluding them from producing their own technologies. This hurts consumers by limiting their choices just to prop up competitors that consumers have already rejected.
Member since:2006-07-04
If it's true that OEM's can add other things to the Welcome Center then I don't have a problem with what MS is doing.
As for bundling actual services (not just offering links to them), according to the article, MS is having to negotiate with OEMs to bundle Live services just like Google negotiated with Dell to bundle Google's Desktop (and other Googleware). So OEMs can bundle the services of the highest bidder, and MS isn't getting or expecting favorable treatment based on the fact that it supplies the OS. So it's all fair.
Member since:
2005-07-06
This appears to me as another reason to sue MS for monopolistic practices. They once again promote other products/services urelated to OS functionality which is only meant to wipe out the competition (e.g. Google) in areas that they normally woudn't be able take a lead without the help of monopolistic market share of their OS.
Do you really believe this wasn't approved by the board assigned to monitor MS on antitrust issues? Also third-parties have never had a problem competing with MS in the past despite lack of inclusion in the OS as long as their product was good, and this isn't unprecedented.
In any case, the Welcome Center is not an area where MS has exclusive access. The Welcome Center is an OEM integration point, so system builders like Dell (who've known about the Welcome Center for years now) may include their own services or services of affiliates like Google.
Edited 2006-08-18 18:13