Microsoft has shifted gears and will now include Internet Explorer with Windows 7 when the OS begins shipping worldwide in October, even with constant European Commission antitrust issues.
"I'm pleased to report that we will ship the same version of Windows 7 in Europe in October that we will ship in the rest of the world," Microsoft general counsel Dave Heiner said on the Microsoft web site. "We're now confident that shipping Windows 7 with IE in Europe, as we will in the rest of the world, is the right thing to do for our partners and for our customers."
Rather than simply remove IE, Windows 7 users will be greeted with a ballot, allowing them to choose IE or another Web browser, including Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Opera.
IE built directly into the OS -- especially since it's difficult, if not impossible, to uninstall the browser from current editions of Windows -- has led to the company receiving pressure from the European Commission. Microsoft's proposed ballot system has been tentatively agreed to by the EU, though it's possible they'll meet in the future to discuss specifics of the technology.
If the European Commission denies the ballot system, a Windows 7 E version -- specifically for the EU, without IE installed -- could be sold. Several Microsoft partners reportedly discussed Windows 7E with Microsoft officials, noting concern about possible negative ramifications if IE isn't offered with the OS.
Despite losing marketshare to Mozilla Firefox, IE still controls more than half of the Internet browser search market, with 60 percent total control.
The successor to unpopular Windows Vista, Windows 7 has received good reviews from early testers, with Microsoft anxious to have consumers forget about Vista. The OS is now ready for delivery to manufacturers, and will be officially released on Oct. 22.
