19 February 2010 | Author: D. Warburton Search Copywriter

Windows users offered choice of web browser

Microsoft is to begin offering Windows users in Europe a choice of web browser for the first time, following a legal agreement with the European Competition Commission.

Until now, Windows has always been shipped ready for use with Microsoft Internet Explorer as default, but starting from 1 March the company will be obliged to offer users across Europe a choice of browser they prefer.

Microsoft's vice president and deputy general counsel, Dave Heiner, said in a blog post that the software update choice will be automatically available for users of Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. He explained: "Users who get the choice screen will be free to choose any browser or stick with the browser they have, as they prefer."

December's browser market share figures showed that Internet Explorer in its various forms was still the world's most popular web browser, accounting for 62.69 per cent of internet users and only slipping by around one per cent each month across the second half of 2009.

By offering Windows users a choice of browser for the first time, it is anticipated that this change could greatly improve competition in the market. The alternative browsers offered will be Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Opera.

"Millions of people who have never really thought about which browser to use will now be forced to make a choice," said the BBC's technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones.

"That presents Microsoft's rivals with a unique marketing opportunity."

Mozilla Foundation chairperson Mitchell Baker called the news "an important milestone towards helping people take control of their online lives." Mozilla's Firefox was found to be the second most popular browser at the end of 2009 with 24.61 per cent of the market share, followed by Google Chrome which pipped Apple's Safari to the post as the world's third most used browser.

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