Microsoft fined £484 million by European Union for breaking Windows web browser pledge
MICROSOFT have been fined £484 million by the European Union today for not fufilling a pledge to offer Windows users a choice of internet browsers.
Bill Gates' software giants introduced a pop up screen in March 2010 which offered users a choice of browsers after striking a deal with the EU.
However, the feature was dropped in February 2011 in a Windows 7 update meaning customers could only use its flagship Internet Explorer program.
Brussels regulator Joaquin Almunia said: "A failure to comply is a very serious infringement that must be sanctioned accordingly."
The penalty was imposed by the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, and it is the first time a company has not fulfilled a deal with the EU.
The Washington based company said the pop-up disappeared due to a technical error, and issued an apology for the incident.
A spokesman for Microsoft said: "We take full responsibility for the technical error that caused this problem and have apologised for it/"
The company is now obliged to offer customers a choice of browsers through 2014, which includes Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.
Since 1998 Microsoft have paid in total £1.9 billion worth of fines to the commission.