Microsoft makes antitrust concessions

Microsoft has finally agreed to carry out certain conditions set out in its antitrust settlement with the US Department of Justice even though legal proceedings are still pending with the non-settling states.

The software giant is expected to outline its full plans in a conference call later this afternoon from its headquarters in Seattle chaired by Brad Smith, general counsel at Microsoft and Charlie DeJong, director of business development in the Windows platform group.

In a statement released ahead of this meeting, the company said: "Although the proposed settlement had not been entered by the District Court, Microsoft has agreed to implement certain provisions of the settlement agreement while the court process is pending.

"The [conference] call will highlight these efforts and August milestones, and discuss next steps in the consent decree process."