Top > Webmaster > 2006 > August > 2006-08-27

No Microsoft Media Player in South Korea

New versions of Microsoft Windows will be released in South Korea in order to comply with an antitrust ruling. South Korea`s Fair Trade Commission fined Microsoft $34 million in December, saying the company was selling a version of Windows that incorporated its media player and instant messaging services, and by that breached antitrust laws.

The commission ordered Microsoft to remove its media player and messaging service from Windows software or allow the embedding of rival products in its operating system. Now Microsoft will release two versions each of Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional Edition. One version has removed Windows Media Player and Windows Messenger, while the other includes a link to a Web page where users can download all rival instant messaging programs.

Microsoft has said its bundled version "has benefited consumers and the local technology industry and has not blocked competition because South Koreans can already download and use competitors` software".