Global Dispatches
December 31, 2007 (Computerworld) -- Opera Files Suit Against Microsoft BRUSSELS — Opera Software ASA last month filed an antitrust complaint against Microsoft Corp., accusing it of stifling competition by tying its Internet Explorer Web browser to Windows. The complaint, filed with the European Commission, contends that Microsoft is abusing its dominant position in the PC business. Oslo-based Opera is asking the commission to force Microsoft to unbundle IE from Windows or to offer other browsers as a standard part of the operating system. Microsoft said it will cooperate with any investigation that may result from Opera’s complaint. It also claimed that users can now “use and set as default any browser they wish” and that “PC manufacturers can preinstall any browser as the default on any Windows machine they sell.” -- James Niccolai and Paul Meller, IDG News Service IBM Projects $1B in India Revenue BANGALORE, India — IBM is projecting sales of about $1 billion (U.S.) from its Indian operation, up from about $700 million in 2006. A spokesman for IBM India Ltd., which is based here, said sales in India grew by 39% during the first three quarters of 2007. “At the current growth rates, we expect revenue of $1 billion for the year,” he said. The spokesman said that India has become a key hub for IBM’s delivery of services worldwide, since the company is taking advantage of the country’s large pool of skilled labor. The company employed 53,000 people in India at the end of 2006. Current figures are unavailable, said IBM. -- John Ribeiro, IDG News Service Briefly Noted National Foods Ltd. has extended its outsourcing contract with Hewlett-Packard Co. by three years. The deal is worth $12.3 million Australian ($10.6 million U.S.). HP manages the Melbourne, Australia-based dairy products manufacturer’s IT infrastructure and is planning to introduce SAP AG applications. -- Sandra Rossi, Computerworld Australia