LONDON (Brand Republic) - The European Commission has closed its investigation into Microsoft鈥檚 investments in European digital cable operators, such as NTL and UPC.
The Commission said that Microsoft had agreed to change its relationship with the operators, and that it was taking no action against the software giant.
The investigation focused on the creation of 鈥渢echnology boards鈥, which had a joint Microsoft-NTL or Microsoft-UPC membership. Microsoft could have used its power on these boards to influence the two companies鈥 choice of software for set-top boxes.
In response to the Commission鈥檚 concerns, Microsoft agreed to ditch one of the technology boards and turn the other into a forum which is open to competing suppliers of set-top box technology.
Microsoft鈥檚 interactive TV software competes with software from Liberate and OpenTV. The company鈥檚 attempts to gain a strong foothold in the market have so far failed, and delays in its software production have meant that several operators have switched to other technology.
www.microsoft.com
www.NTL.com
www.UPC.nl