EU pressures Microsoft over Vista search functions and software

The European Commission said European Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes had written to Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer to express worries about the company’s new operating system, Vista. The Commission is concerned Vista may package Internet search functions or software to create fixed document formats, such as the "pdf" format, posing a threat to companies such as Google or Adobe that provide similar products.

"We are concerned about the possibility that the next Vista operating system will include various elements which are currently available separately from Microsoft or other companies," Commission spokesman Jonathan Todd said. He said there was no formal investigation into Vista but that the Commission expected Microsoft to react.

Reuters