Mircosoft target of two EU probes

BRUSSELS, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- European antitrust officials are conducting another probe of possible anti-competitive behavior by Microsoft, focusing on the U.S. tech giant's core operations.

If allegations prove true, officials said Microsoft's Internet strategy could be disrupted and its desktop software dominance weakened, Business Week reported.

The European Commission announced two new investigations into the Redmond, Wash., company's practices Monday.

One will examine whether Microsoft's refusal to disclose key information prevents competing products from interfacing with Microsoft's suite of business applications, the .Net programming language and other products, the business magazine said. The second investigation will focus on the legality of bundling Microsoft's Web browser with its Windows operating system.

"Microsoft should be concerned because this case addresses core aspects of its business model and the preservation of its core monopolies," says Thomas Vinje, a partner in the Brussels law firm that represents a coalition of tech companies that filed one of the complaints. "The case has the potential to transform the software industry and give consumers a real choice in desktop operating systems and programs."

Microsoft said in a statement it was "committed to ensuring that Microsoft is in full compliance with European law."