Microsoft Worries More Over Y2K Than Court

Updated 12:43 AM ET November 24, 1999

By Tara FitzGerald

DUBAI (Reuters) - Software giant Microsoft Corp is more concerned over potential Y2K problems than its legal challenges, which have had no noticeable effect on business and could go on for years, a senior company official said.

"In all honesty, we think whilst we have always expressed the desire to settle on the appropriate terms, this is likely to go to the appeals court and then if we are not successful there we will go to the supreme court," John Leftwich, vice president of marketing for Europe, Middle East and Africa, said late on Tuesday.

"We are more worried about Y2K...but even with Y2K we haven't seen any noticeable impact on the business," he told Reuters in an interview during a regional tour.

A U.S. federal judge earlier this month ruled that Microsoft wielded monopoly power in personal computer systems. The ruling came after the U.S. government brought an antitrust action against the giant software maker, saying it abuses its market power to thwart competition.

The next step is to determine if the findings of fact constitute a violation of antitrust law by Microsoft.

But Leftwich said the case Microsoft was embroiled in had not had any discernible impact on business so far and was not really expected to.

FREE TRADE ZONE FOR INTERNET BUSINESS

Leftwich's visit included talks on plans by Dubai to set up a free-trade zone for business done on the Internet, which he described as a "fascinating and very bold initiative."

Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid al-Maktoum announced last month that the emirate was investing an initial $200 million in launching the Dubai Internet City, and was inviting top computer companies to set up businesses there.

Leftwich said Microsoft was currently holding discussions with local officials on whether it would establish a base in the new free-trade zone, due to start operations in one year.

"I'm pretty confident we will make a decision in the relatively near future," he said.

Leftwich said Dubai was helped in this venture by its position between East and West and as a hub for major distributors such as Federal Express and United Parcel Service.

PACE OF INTERNET DEVELOPMENT IN ARAB COUNTRIES

"But the ultimate question which no-one can answer is how fast people in Arab countries will begin to use the Internet and how receptive will they be to e-commerce in the broader sense."

Microsoft has said its new Windows 2000 operating system would go on sale in retail outlets from February 17 next year, and Leftwich said the version with Arabic support would be available simultaneously with the English software.

The fully localized version, with menus and so on in Arabic would come out about two months after the main launch.

Bahram Mohazzebi, general manager of Microsoft Gulf and Eastern Mediterranean, said the Arabic software program was one which Microsoft remained very committed to.

"It's one of the basic added values that we are bringing to this local market," he said.

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Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), November 24, 1999

Answers

Judging by the amount of article space dedicated to Microsoft's Y2K worries, I'd say they don't appear to be too worried about Y2K either.

-- Butt Nugget (catsbutt@umailme.com), November 24, 1999.

Time & Y2K may finally wake the herd to the serious shortcomings of Microsux. Useless Doorstop Rendering via Y2K may have the final say in Microsux's downfall. Hail to the superiority of the Macintosh, which MS tried to imitate, booby-trap, and rip off.

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), November 24, 1999.