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Windows 7 will ship without Internet Explorer in Europe, in an effort by Microsoft to offer the product on time and without running afoul of competitive regulations in Europe, the company said. Microsoft on Thursday confirmed a Cnet story quoting from a memo that the software giant sent this week to PC makers.

The move stems from a complaint that Web browser developer Opera filed with the European Commission last year saying that Microsoft gets an unfair advantage by tying IE with Windows. Mozilla has joined Opera in the suit. By shipping Windows 7 without the browser, Microsoft may avoid potential requirements to delay shipment or other sanctions.

"We're committed to launching Windows 7 on time in Europe, so we need to address the legal realities in Europe, including the risk of large fines," Dave Heiner, deputy general counsel at Microsoft, wrote in a blog post on Thursday.

PC makers and distributors will be able to add any browser to the Windows 7 machines and Microsoft said it plans to make it easy for them to do so.

Microsoft to sell Windows 7 in Europe without a browser | Applications - InfoWorld

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