Microsoft accepts new name for Windows minus Media Player

By Simon Aughton

Posted on 29 Mar 2005 at 18:37

Microsoft has accepted the European Commission's name for its forthcoming version of Windows XP without Windows Media Player.

The EC ruled last week that both the Home and Pro version should be appended with N to designate the absence of Media Player; they will therefore be known as Windows XP Home Edition N and Windows XP Professional Edition N.

Microsoft had originally suggested calling the software Windows XP Reduced Media Edition, but that was rejected by the EC as too pejorative. The Commission also rejected eight other Microsoft suggestions.

Microsoft has also agreed to remove warnings that some software may not work with the N editions and has put back some registry files that had been removed from them. It will also remove an application that restores WMP to the operating system.

The company said it was unhappy with the final name, but would comply.

'While we are disappointed with that determination and have some misgivings that the Commission's designated name may cause confusion for consumers, we will adopt the Commission's name in order to promptly move forward and accelerate the pace of the implementation process,' it said in a statement.

Microsoft was ordered to release a Media Player-free version of Windows as part of last year's antitrust ruling. Microsoft is appealing but recently failed in an attempt to have the penalties, which include a €500mn fine, suspended pending the outcome of the appeal.

Versions of Windows including WMP will still be available.

Microsoft was also ordered to open up access to its Windows Server products and negotiations over licensing terms are still ongoing.