ADD N TO XP 30/03/2005

Microsoft is releasing a scaled down version of Windows XP without its media player, after the European Commission antitrust division determined the OS bundle did not give competitors a fair shake. Windows XP N leaves consumers free to choose which media software they’ll use to play music tracks and video clips, and they may opt for products from companies such as Apple or RealMedia.

The software giant has misgivings about the latest incarnation of Windows confusing buyers who discover they can’t play their media files in the way they did in the past. It put forward several name suggestions subsequently rejected by the European Commission, including ‘Windows XP Reduced Media Edition,’ before settling on the officials’ proposition of adding an ‘N’. Consumers who opt for Windows XP N can install commercial or freeware versions of the media players supporting their preferred file formats. Windows XP N will be hitting European shelves in the next few weeks.

Contact: www.microsoft.com