The European Union (EU) announced it is launching an investigation following complaints from several companies claiming Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8 operating system (OS) restricts computers to install rival web browsers.
The EU's antitrust regulators are looking into the allegations that the new OS does not provide access to complete interfaces (APIs) for non-default browsers.
Microsoft made a commitment back in 2009 on allowing rival browsers to be installed, as the EU reported that penalties for not complying would be "severe."
Microsoft did admit it had "fallen short" of its obligation to provide the "browser choice screen," or BCS, for their Windows 7 Service Pack 1. The BCS would give users to select a browser other than Microsoft's Internet Explorer.
According to a statement by Microsoft, the problem was a "technical error." Adding, "We missed delivering the BCS software to PCs that came with the service pack 1 update to Windows 7. The BCS software has been delivered as it should have been to PCs running the original version of Windows 7, as well as the relevant versions of Windows XP and Windows Vista. However, while we believed when we filed our most recent compliance report in December 2011 that we were distributing the BCS software to all relevant PCs as required, we learned recently that we've missed serving the BCS software to the roughly 28 million PCs running Windows 7 SP1."
EU competition commissioner Joaquin Almunia stated the browser choice screen (BCS) had not been provided since February 2011, meaning 28 million customers might not have seen it.
"While we have taken immediate steps to remedy this problem, we deeply regret that this error occurred and we apologize for it," said a statement from Microsoft.
The EU regulators' investigation includes assurance that the upcoming Windows 8 OS does not feature the same problem.
"We take compliance with our decisions very seriously. I trusted [Microsoft's] reports were accurate. But it seems that was not the case, so we have immediately taken action. If following our investigation, the infringement is confirmed, Microsoft should expect sanctions."," said Almunia.
The inabilities to install rival browsers are bad news for Apple's Safari, Google's Chrome, and Mozilla's Firefox.
To date, the EU has fined Microsoft £1.64 billion euros.
Windows 8 OS is set to be released in October.
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