Google complaint spurs Microsoft to alter Vista

Complaints shot off by Google regarding Vista design has made software behemoth Microsoft to mend its ways. According to a report, Microsoft agreed to modify its Vista operating system to resolve Google's complaints that the program's design hurts competing search software in violation of a 2001 anti-trust settlement. Vista is the latest version of the Windows Operating System that runs on 95 per cent of the world's personal computers.

Microsoft has been barred under a consent decree from taking steps to disadvantage desktop software made by rival companies. The decree ended a government anti-trust suit. It may be recalled that the settlement of 2001 reached with the US Justice Department and state anti-trust regulators, had addressed the complaint by Google that its desktop search program failed to perform properly on Vista.

In a joint filing effected in the Washington court this week, the agency and the states stated that the Justice Department and the states are collectively satisfied that this agreement will resolve any issues the complaint may raise under the final judgments, provided that Microsoft implements it as promised.

As per the filing, Microsoft will now create a mechanism for customers and manufacturers to select a default program to handle desktop searches, and that application will be launched whenever a new window is opened to provide search results.

The report added that Vista display search results and Microsoft will add a link that is to launch the default desktop search program. A version of the changes will be available by year's end, it has been reported.