Microsoft to let the customer choose the default search engine in Internet Explorer 7

Microsoft to let the customer choose the default search engine in Internet Explorer 7

Software giants Microsoft has said that they would allow users to choose which search engine to use as the default for Internet Explorer 7 in Windows Vista.

Currently, the Internet Explorer 7 installations come with Windows Live Search as the default search engine unless it is an upgraded edition where it picks up the default search engine from the previous installation.

This would make Google and Yahoo! somewhat happier as they have big reasons to believe that the software giant would use the launch of Vista to heavily promote their Live search engine.

This announcement was made by the company in a press statement, which starts with a question: “How Will Microsoft Enhance Windows While Promoting Competition?”

It continues: “Our goal is to be principled and transparent as we develop new versions of Windows. These voluntary principles are intended to provide the industry and consumers with the benefits of ongoing innovation, while creating and preserving robust opportunities for competition. The principles incorporate and go beyond the provisions of the U.S. antitrust ruling.”

Looks like the pressures from the European Union are showing its effect.