A group of Microsoft rivals and critics, ProComp, has said it
believes that its new Windows XP operating system and .NET strategy
will add to the company’s monopoly which is the subject of ongoing
antitrust action against US states and the Department of Justice.
The Project to Promote Competition and Innovation in the Digital
Age, "ProComp," is composed of anonymous companies and
organisations seeking to promote consumer choice in the electronic
marketplace.
ProComp says that Microsoft's monopoly positions in three
markets have actually increased since the beginning of the
antitrust case, as it now has a 93% share of PC operating systems,
a 96% share of productivity applications suites, and an 88% share
of web browsers. Having driven competition from the market, ProComp
believes Microsoft is free to raise prices and has now embarked on
its most aggressive plans yet to recoup the maximum degree of
monopoly profits.
ProComp describes .NET as being Microsoft Windows for the
internet which will lead to “a Microsoft proprietary internet which
leverages Microsoft's current Windows, Office and browser
monopolies to create a Windows-centric web services platform based
upon Windows proprietary standards and interfaces.”
It warns that, by adding Windows-centric proprietary hooks to
its .NET platform, Microsoft will be able to lock up both the
server software and web-based services markets.
Beginning with Windows XP, every new computer will automatically
create a Microsoft Passport and enrol the user in Microsoft's
instant messaging system. Microsoft Passport will allow Microsoft
to jump-start efforts to enable additional web-based collaboration,
essentially shutting others out of the process, says ProComp,
adding:
"The clear and present danger is that
Microsoft's strategy of bolting its Internet-related services to
its Windows, Office and browser monopolies will lead to a monopoly
in internet services. Microsoft will then be in the position of
supplanting the internet as we know it today with an internet
proprietary to Microsoft."
