Microsoft browser pledge ends EU dispute

EU regulators accepted a pledge by Microsoft to allow rival Internet browsers on its systems, ending a long antitrust dispute with the U.S. software maker.

Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said millions of European consumers would benefit by being able to choose their browser and the decision would encourage web companies to innovate.

Microsoft will allow users to select from among 12 browsers including its own Internet Explorer, Mozilla's Firefox, Apple's Safari and Google's Chrome on more than 100 million PCs from mid-March.

The decision averted another penalty for Microsoft which has been fined 1.68 billion euros ($2.44 billion) by the European Commission for previous infringements of anti-competition rules.

The European Union executive said Microsoft's legally binding pledge addressed its concerns that the company may have breached EU antitrust rules by bundling its Internet Explorer web browser with its dominant Windows operating system.

Microsoft will also give computer makers the option to turn off Internet Explorer or install a rival browser, the Commission said.

Microsoft's commitments will be valid in the European Economic Area for five years, the Commission said, ending its antitrust investigation, which was triggered by a complaint from Norwegian browser maker Opera.

"We think this is an important victory for the Web,". Opera's Chief Technology Officer Hakon Wium Lie told Reuters.

"This means Internet users in Europe will have a genuine choice. It feels good. It's been two years of hard work for us."

The European Union executive in January accused Microsoft of seeking to thwart rivals by bundling the company's browser with its Windows PC operating system, thereby harming innovation and reducing consumer choice.

Internet Explorer is used for about 56 percent of global Internet traffic, Mozilla's Firefox about 32 percent and Opera 2 percent, just following Google and Apple Inc's Safari, according to Web analytics firm StatCounter.

 BRUSSELS, Dec 16 (Reuters)