The antitrust police are right after Microsoft again, but this time in Russia. As opposed to other antitrust investigations involving Windows, the Russian case is focusing on Microsoft;s phase-out of XP,
Office Standard 2010 32 Bit, instead of bundling of a variety of components to the base working technique.The Russian Federal Antimonopoly Company (FAS) announced on June four it had opened an investigation of Microsoft. The charges — according to a version of a note on the government;s Web site, which I translated into English using the handy Bing Translator: Cutting off sales of XP as of June 2008, despite the fact there remains continuing demand for XP.While the FAS notes that Microsoft is continuing to provide XP via “downgrade rights,” which are available for certain versions of Windows Vista,
Office Pro Plus 2010 32 bits, there seems to be some kind of problem with “setting several prices (tariffs) at the same item,” according to the translated complaint.The costs against Microsoft will “be considered” by the Russian antitrust body on July 24.Microsoft;s response, delivered by way of a corporate spokesperson:“Microsoft has not yet received notice of any new investigation. However,
Office Home And Student, we will cooperate with any inquiry and remain committed to full compliance with Russian law.”I guess the Russian authorities haven;t been tracking all the continued leases on life Microsoft has given XP, the running technique that just won;t die….Meanwhile, Microsoft also is facing antitrust costs in the EU over its browser-bundling policies with Windows, in a situation brought by Opera Software. According to a recent Wall Street Journal report,
Office 2010 Home And Student Activation clave, the European Commission is considering requiring Microsoft to distribute browsers from its different competitors, possibly by delivering them as part of Windows,
Office 2010 Generator clave, as one potential remedy in that situation. (Opera suggested Microsoft be required to do level the playing field by distributing its competitors; products when it originally brought its antitrust complaint back in 2007.)The EC is expected to issue its ruling in the Opera case in the coming weeks.