• NYT, Wednesday, December 16, 2009 3:15 PM

Microsoft has agreed to offer European consumers a choice of rival Web browsers, and, in turn, regulators have dropped their antitrust case against the software giant. According to the Times, the settlement averted a second costly legal battle for Microsft. Per the agreement, Microsoft will give Windows users a choice of up to 11 other browsers from competing companies, including Mozilla, Apple and Google. Beginning next year, European users of Microsoft's Windows operating system and its Internet Explorer browser will receive an option to switch browsers via a software update.

In a statement, Microsoft said it was "pleased" with the decision, while a company spokesman tells the Times it has no plans to extend the offer beyond the 27-member European Union, along with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

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