Microsoft to offer free technical support to rival software makers

Microsoft to offer free technical support to rival software makers

Microsoft is finding it hard to please the European Union to get over the anti-trust lawsuit pending against it. The company has now offered to provide “free, unlimited technical support” to rivals interested in making their software work with Microsoft servers.

Microsoft said that they are committed to fully comply with the landmark EU antitrust ruling. Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith said in a statement: “We are committed to doing everything in our power to address the (European) Commission’s concerns.”

However, the European Union representative said that the company would have to do more to come in agreement with the ruling. The latest effort has been however called a constructive proposal.

EU spokesman Jonathan Todd said: “Microsoft will naturally be well placed to answer questions from licensees on specific points of the technical documents. The Commission’s preliminary view is that the technical documentation still does not comply with the requirements of the March 2004 decision.”

He added: “Microsoft will have the opportunity to explain how this technical support is relevant to the March 2004 decision.”