Millions of web users across Europe are being asked by Microsoft if they want to continue using its Internet Explorer (IE) or change to another browser.
Web users are given a selection of browsers to choose from
The move by the US software giant is part of a deal struck with the European Commission to resolve competition concerns.
Microsoft IE is currently used by around 62% of web users worldwide, followed by Firefox which has a 24% market share, according to Net Applications.
Starting this week, a pop-up window will prompt users to choose one of 12 different browsers or stay with Internet Explorer.
The browser choice software will be delivered as part of the Windows Update system which Microsoft usually uses to distribute security patches.
Internet Explorer dominates market
Users of Windows XP, Vista or 7 will get it – but users of non-IE browsers such as Opera, Safari, Chrome or Firefox will not see it.
The software will give the user the prompt “An important choice to make: your browser” leading to a screen with the list of the 12 web browsers available.
Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Safari and Internet Explorer will be randomly ordered on the first section.
Seven less well-known browsers – Avant, Flock, Green Browser, K-meleon, Maxthon, Sleipnir and Slim – will be randomly ordered on the rest of the screen.
Each listing contains some information on the particular browser and a download button.
The choice screen will keep appearing until a user has selected their preferred browser.
Anyone wanting to stick with IE will be prompted to upgrade to Internet Explorer 8.
It is not yet clear what effect the Microsoft browser choice will have on IE’s large market share.
Firefox among available browers
A Microsoft spokesman told Sky News Online: “We are confident that customers want a browser that helps protect their privacy and safeguards them from online threats.
“And one that provides an easy way for customers to do more of what they want online, things like banking, shopping, social networking and surfing.
“IE provides exactly this and is the modern browser for today’s modern world.”
Web commentator James Holland from electricpig.co.uk told Sky News Online that offering people a choice was a “brilliant idea”.
He said users would be tempted to “try something different” and predicted that by selecting an alternative to IE they would force Microsoft to up its game.
Hopefully this would “speed Microsoft up in its updates”, he said, adding IE was “a bit buggy and slow”.
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