Microsoft to ship new Korean Windows

By Steve Malone

Posted on 24 Aug 2006 at 10:58

Microsoft has announced will ship new versions of its Windows operating systems in Korea. The decision follows the failure of an appeal against an anti-trust ruling.

Last December the Korean Fair Trade Commission found that the integration of Media Player and Instant Messaging capabilities into Windows contravened South Korea's Fair Trade Law. As a result, Microsoft was ordered to release a new version of Windows.

Two new versions of Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional Edition will be shipped from today. One version will not contain Windows Media Player and Windows Messenger while the other will be supplied with links to web pages that allow users to download rival media players and instant messaging programs.

The Korean verdict goes beyond the remedies ship a version of Windows without Media Player. Korea demanded that all copies of Windows should ship without the offending applications. However the accompanying fine of 33 billion Korean Won (£18.2 million) is a mere slap on the wrist compared with the £330 million imposed by the EU.