European antitrust enforcers may seek a massive fine from Microsoft and demand that it drop some features from its dominant Windows software, according to a published report citing a confidential European Commission document outlining its case.
The commission, the European Union's executive body, has authority to impose a fine of as much as 10 percent of Microsoft's annual revenue, or $2.5 billion, the report said.
The European investigation alleges that Microsoft illegally used its dominant Windows and Office software to muscle into the fast-growing market for corporate and Internet computer software, where it faces competition from Sun Microsystems, IBM and others, according to the report.
The newspaper said that the European investigation also alleges that Microsoft illegally sought to dominate music and video software for the Web.
The commission alleged that Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft deliberately designed its Windows 2000 desktop software and companion products so that they wouldn't work well with rivals' software, the newspaper noted.
The investigation focused on the market for servers and alleged that Microsoft illegally bundled its Windows Media Player video software into Windows to shut out competition, the report said.
News source: CNet
The commission, the European Union's executive body, has authority to impose a fine of as much as 10 percent of Microsoft's annual revenue, or $2.5 billion, the report said.
The European investigation alleges that Microsoft illegally used its dominant Windows and Office software to muscle into the fast-growing market for corporate and Internet computer software, where it faces competition from Sun Microsystems, IBM and others, according to the report.
The newspaper said that the European investigation also alleges that Microsoft illegally sought to dominate music and video software for the Web.
The commission alleged that Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft deliberately designed its Windows 2000 desktop software and companion products so that they wouldn't work well with rivals' software, the newspaper noted.
The investigation focused on the market for servers and alleged that Microsoft illegally bundled its Windows Media Player video software into Windows to shut out competition, the report said.
News source: CNet
"The problem right now is Intel is getting some momentum back with their 2 gigahertz Pentium 4 chip," said Needham & Co. analyst Dan Scovel. "They stole the crown back after a six-month hiatus."
AMD has been, for several months now, stressing to reporters and analysts that the clock speed of a microprocessor, the brains of PC, is not the last word on overall performance. There are benchmark tests that have been done showing AMD's Athlon -- running at a slower clock speed -- outperforms Intel's Pentium 4 chip on certain tasks.
Some wonder, though, whether it's too little too late.
"If you're going to get serious about weighing price performance, I think it's a valid point that AMD is making," Scovel said. "But beating the drum at this point is kind of like closing the door after the horse has left the barn."
Commenting has either been disabled on this article or you are not logged in. Click here to login or register, its free!
Note: Anonymous commenting is disabled in order to keep the quality of responses to a high standard.