Microsoft allays US court's wrath

Microsoft has agreed to disclose more information to US officials about its Windows Server operating system, amid complaints concerning Windows Vista.

Lawyers at the antitrust division of the US Department of Justice (DoJ) overseeing the landmark 2002 antitrust settlement said that the company had filed documents that appeased most of their concerns.

Under Microsoft's new plan, companies that signed licences to obtain software 'protocols' would get free access to key additional computer code for Windows Server software.

DoJ lawyers described the plan as a "constructive proposal that addresses many of the [government's] concerns".

In a separate instance the court received a complaint concerning Windows Vista, the new operating system Microsoft is developing as a successor to Windows XP.

The complaint queried whether computer makers would be able to "customise" the "first-boot" experience when users first turn on their machines.

The complaint hinged on the 'Welcome Center', a feature that presents users with different computer set-up options and commercial offers at the end of the "initial out-of-the-box experience".

"While we have not reached any conclusion as to the merits of these complaints, plaintiffs continue to gather information and monitor the situation, " the DoJ said.

Microsoft spokesman Jack Evans claimed that the company had discussed the design of Vista with all of the top 20 PC manufacturers.

"Nearly all of them are satisfied with how we've balanced the improved user experience and clarity with the ability for [computer makers] to differentiate and add value during the first 10 minutes of using a new Windows Vista PC," he said.

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