European Union regulators said Microsoft Corp. was offering less choice, not more, by vowing to sell the next version of Windows without any Web browsers at all. Microsoft said Thursday that it would remove its Internet Explorer browser — and not include any alternatives — in the Windows 7 software it will sell from Oct. 22 in Europe to soothe EU antitrust concerns. The company is trying to avoid new EU fines, on top of a previous euro 1.7 billion fine, after being earlier charged with unfairly using its operating system monopoly to squeeze into other software markets. But the European Commission said it preferred to see consumers offered a choice of browsers, “not that Windows would be supplied without a browser at all.”
US Airways to cut 400 attendants
US Airways is asking for 400 flights attendants to volunteer for leaves of up to 16 months, and said involuntary furloughs could be next if there aren’t enough takers. The Tempe, Ariz.-based company said in a newsletter issued to workers Thursday that it needs fewer flight attendants because it has reduced capacity faster than flight attendants have retired or quit. Many individual flight attendants are flying more than they used to, leaving the company with too many reserve flight attendants, it said. US Airways is seeking 300 volunteers from Phoenix and Las Vegas and 100 on the East Coast.
Amazon pays to settle lawsuit
Amazon.com Inc. will pay $51 million to Toys R Us Inc. to end a five-year legal dispute between the online retailer and the toy seller of the exclusive right to sell toys. Amazon will make the payment, “substantially all of which was unanticipated,” in the third quarter, which begins July 1. But the company said it will be charged to operating expenses in the second quarter. The lawsuit was over a partnership that gave Toys R Us rights to supply some toy products on Amazon’s site. Wayne, N.J.-based Toys R Us claimed Amazon violated the partnership by letting others sell some toys on Amazon.com. Seattle-based Amazon said the toy seller failed to keep items in stock.
Dollar tops euro despite sell-off
The euro was slightly lower against the dollar Friday even as a dollar sell-off continued with investors moving back into stock markets. The 16-nation euro bought $1.4105 in European morning trading, down from the $1.4126 late Thursday in New York. The British pound bought $1.6544, compared with $1.6589 the night before. The dollar tends to trade inversely with equities, and investors, cheered by rising stock markets, are selling out of the safety of the U.S. currency. Rising markets tend to result in a weaker currency as investors look for riskier, better-yielding assets that give higher returns. In other trading, the dollar bought 97.95 Japanese yen up from 97.52 late Thursday in New York.
From Herald news services
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