Microsoft proposes "Browser Ballot Screen" to the EU

We've previously reported that Microsoft was planning to ship Windows 7 in Europe without Internet Explorer. But now, reports are saying that users could be given the choice of which browser to install when they install Windows 7 in Europe as proposed by Microsoft to the European Commission.

"Under our new proposal, among other things, European consumers who buy a new Windows PC with Internet Explorer set as their default browser would be shown a ‘ballot screen' from which they could, if they wished, easily install competing browsers from the Web. If this proposal is ultimately accepted, Microsoft will ship Windows in Europe with the full functionality available in the rest of the world. As requested by the Commission, we will be publishing our proposal in full here on our website as soon as possible.", says the proposal by Microsoft to the European Commission.

When reports came out that Windows 7 in Europe would ship without Internet Explorer, many people were confused on how they would be able to browse the web without a web browser, even though Microsoft has provided documentation on how to install Windows 7 E edition, and Rafael Rivera from Within Windows has also provided a method to download a web browser through Windows Media Player.

A proposed version of the ballot screen is shown below as shown in this Powerpoint presentation. It looks looks like the European Commission has welcomed the new proposal by Microsoft.



Image courtesy of Microsoft