Microsoft found innocent in anti-trust breach

A three-month old investigation by Russian anti-monopoly service FAS into the supposed violations of local anti-trust laws by software giant Microsoft has been closed, with no wrongdoing found. Microsoft was accused of cutting back shipments of its Windows XP operating system both as a standalone product and preloaded onto PCs and over the pricing policy on the aging but still popular OS.

Microsoft's motivation for cutting off XP supply was forcing users to upgrade to newer operating systems such as Windows Vista, which would both create new revenue as well as save the company money by devoting less resources on support of the aging OS.

Microsoft Russia president Nikolai Pryanishnikov said the company would begin offering customers a no-cost exchange of Windows Vista Home Basic and Windows Vista Home Premium for Windows XP Home in a few weeks, which would be extended until the end of the year.

On the 10th of September, FAS will make a decision whether to pursue another probe in notebook manufacturers which ship products with pre-installed Microsoft software. [via Yahoo]

By Electronista Staff