EU regulators set to fine Microsoft for breaking browser pledge

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - European Union anti-trust regulators are set to hit Microsoft with a hefty fine on Wednesday for breaking a promise to offer consumers using its Windows system a choice of rival Internet browsers, people familiar with the case said.

EU anti-trust chief Joaquin Almunia is expected to use the fine - which could run into hundreds of millions of euros - to set an example after the U.S. software giant became the first company to break a promise made to end an anti-trust probe.

Almunia will announce his decision at 11:30 a.m. British time, the sources said. Reuters reported last week that EU regulators would fine Microsoft before the end of March.

EU rules mean the company could be penalised $7.4 billion (4.9 billion pounds) or 10 percent of its fiscal 2012 revenues although regulators are not expected to levy such a high fine.

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/03/06/uk-eu-microsoft-idUKBRE92500F20130306