Here's some good news: European Union regulators fined Microsoft Corp. a record 899 million euros ($1.35 billion) for failing to comply with a 2004 antitrust order to stop overcharging for using its patents to connect to Windows. ``Microsoft was the first company in 50 years of EU competition policy that the commission has had to fine for failure to comply with an antitrust decision,'' European Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said in a statement today in Brussels. ``I hope that today's decision closes a dark chapter in Microsoft's record of non-compliance.'' http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=ayPhWL_iSyc0&refer=home
Here's another great news for microsoft: Google Goes After Another Microsoft Cash Cow "Google is adding a new front to its assault on Microsoftâs software applications business. The Internet search giant on Wednesday is rolling out a rival to Microsoftâs SharePoint, a program used for collaboration among teams of workers. Googleâs program, called Google Sites, will become part of the companyâs applications suite, which includes e-mail, calendar, word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software. Like other elements of Google Apps, it will be free and require no installation, maintenance or upgrades. With Google Sites, the company is taking on what Christopher Liddell, Microsoftâs chief financial officer, said has become a $1 billion a year product. Thatâs a relatively small, but far from insignificant, portion of Microsoftâs business division whose mainstay Office suite is the No. 1 target of Google Apps. Microsoftâs business division brought in $4.8 billion in the most recent quarter." http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/...er-another-microsoft-cash-cow/?ref=technology