Desktop platforms Toolkit

Media player-less Windows finally named

Ina Fried CNET News

Published: 29 Mar 2005 08:55 BST

Microsoft will rename a product it was ordered by the European Commission to offer — a version of Windows with its media player removed.

The product, which Microsoft had wanted to be called Windows XP Reduced Media Edition, will now be known as either Windows XP Home Edition N or Windows XP Professional Edition N.

Earlier this year, Microsoft said it was working with the commission on naming options after antitrust regulators balked at the "reduced media" name. Microsoft said the name was selected by European regulators over nine other alternatives proposed by the software maker.

"We have some misgivings about the chosen name as we fear it may cause confusion," Microsoft spokeswoman Stacy Drake said on Monday. "We will adopt the commission's name in order to move forward and accelerate the pace of the implementation process."

Among other options Microsoft suggested were Windows XP Not Incorporating Windows Media Player, Windows XP/N and Windows XP/B.

In addition to challenging the name of the new Windows version, the commission has expressed concern about the degree to which Microsoft has complied with its order requiring the company to license Windows communications protocols to rivals.