Microsoft has announced 12 principles by which the company will guide its development of the Windows desktop platform, starting with Windows Vista and beyond.
At a New America Foundation Policy Luncheon at the National Press Club here, Brad Smith, Microsoft"s senior vice president and general counsel, outlined the principles and discussed lessons Microsoft has learned over the past 10 years based on antitrust battles, regulatory scrutiny and fierce competition in the operating system and software market in general.
- Installation - make it easy for people to add non-Microsoft features
- Easy access - Computer manufacturers are free to add icons, shortcuts and the like to the Windows Start menu
- Defaults - Microsoft will design Windows so as to let computer manufacturers and users set non-Microsoft programs to operate by default in certain categories
- Exclusive promotion of non-Microsoft programs
- Business terms: Microsoft will not retaliate against any computer manufacturer that supports non-Microsoft software.
- APIs - Disclose all of the interfaces internal to Windows called by "middleware" within the operating system
- Internet services - Microsoft will design Windows Live as a product that is separate from Windows. Customers will be free to choose Windows with or without Windows Live
- Open Internet access - Microsoft will design and license Windows so that it does not block access to any lawful Web site
- No exclusivity - Microsoft will not enter into contracts that require any third party to promote Windows or any "middleware" in Windows on an exclusive basis
- Interoperability - Points 10 to 12 highlight the fact that Microsoft will make its communications protocols available for commercial release, the company will generally license patents on its operating system inventions, and the company is committed to supporting industry standards.