The European Union (EU) has warned the US software maker Microsoft to modify the Internet Explorer Web browser on its latest Windows 8 operating system to avoid further antitrust investigations.
EU claims Microsoft has not met the earlier promised terms to offer Windows users a choice of Web browsers in its recent version of windows programme.
EU competition commissioner Joaquin Almunia said that if a user decides to set a rival browser as the default browser, there should not be unnecessary warning windows or confirmations by the user, and the Internet Explorer icon should also be unpinned from theStart screen.
"We expect Microsoft to address these issues," Almunia said.
Microsoft’s new Windows 8 OS and the Surface tablet computer are developed to vie with Apple’s iPad, in the US and China.
Microsoft said in a statement that the firm was very serious about the matter and moved quickly to address this problem as soon as it came to know of it.
"Although this was the result of a technical error, we take responsibility for what happened, and we have taken steps to strengthen our internal procedures to help ensure something like this cannot happen again," Microsoft said.
"We sincerely apologize for this mistake and will continue to cooperate fully with the Commission.
"In addition, after discussions with the Commission, we are changing some aspects of the way the Browser Choice Screen works on Windows 8 and will have those changes implemented when Windows 8 launches later this week."
Microsoft was earlier fined for about $2.17bn in EU antitrust investigations that include an €899m penalty for not complying with court’s order to share data with its rivals.
