So other companies that dominate their respective markets better watch out. In particular, Intel, Apple and Google are also being investigated by the EU: Intel
for its pricing of computer chips, Apple for its pricing of music downloads, and Google for its proposed acquisition of ad-serving giant DoubleClick--which could give the search giant power to set ad
rates around the world.
Mighty Microsoft is no longer what it once was, and the EU probe focused on products that wouldn't be considered part of the software giant's core business. However, you couldn't say the same thing for Intel, Apple and Google; any restrictions on their business practices could have a severe impact on revenues. Microsoft must now open its software platforms for media and work-group servers to competition--a decision that could force Apple to make iTunes compatible with other media devices or make Google unveil how its PageRank system works, says one antitrust law professor.