Microsoft agreed on Thursday to sell the newest version of its Windows operating system in Europe without its Internet browser program, bowing to pressure from the European Union (EU)'s antitrust probe.

"To ensure that Microsoft is in compliance with European law, Microsoft will be releasing a separate version of Windows 7 for distribution in Europe that will not include Windows Internet Explorer (IE)," the U.S. software maker said in a confidential memo that was sent to PC producers.

Meanwhile, Microsoft will offer IE 8 separately and free of charge, and PC manufacturers may choose to preinstall IE 8 on Windows 7 machines in Europe or install an alternative web browser.

Microsoft confirmed the authenticity of the document but declined to comment further, according to the technology news website CNET.

The move was taken when the European Commission is due to rule on antitrust charges brought against Microsoft.

The commission, the EU's antitrust watchdog, formally charged Microsoft in January, saying Microsoft's tying of its web browser IE to its dominant client PC operating system Windows infringes EU rules on abuse of a dominant position.

Previously, Microsoft agreed to remove its Windows Media Player from the operating system sold in Europe in a hard-fought battle with the commission, which resulted in antitrust fines of nearly 1.7 billion euros (about 2.4 billion U.S. dollars) against the software maker.

Analysts said Microsoft's move would benefit rivals, such as Mozilla, Apple and Google.

The commission quickly welcomed Microsoft's move. "The European Commission notes with interest Microsoft's announcement of its plans for Windows 7, and in particular of the apparent separation of IE from Windows," it said in a statement later Thursday.

The EU antitrust watchdog said it would shortly decide in the pending browser tying antitrust case whether or not Microsoft's conduct from 1996 to date has been abusive and, if so, what remedy would be necessary to create genuine consumer choice and address the anticompetitive effects of Microsoft's long-standing conduct.

But the commission said it had not intended to require Microsoft to provide Windows without a browser, but to allow consumers to choose from different web browsers.

Source:Xinhua