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Justice Department No Longer Seeking Microsoft Breakup

Aired September 06, 2001 - 10:46   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: This is proof, folks. We said we were scrambling to get some more information for you on that. Dan Seiberg was scrambled up here from "CNN.COM," and literally.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN ANCHOR: He has the microphone on the tie.

HARRIS: Just getting in. Hey, OK, listen, let's talk about this now. A lot of folks are very concerned about the consumer angle on this, no matter which way decision go on this. What do you think?

DAN SEIBERG, "CNN.COM": Right, the key consumer angle about this right now. I'm certainly not a legal expert, but I'll tell you, from the consumer perspective, it looks like this is clearing the way for Windows XP to come out without any problems. Looks like the Justice Department isn't going to go after the bundling aspect, which is one of the concerns in their original case, was that Microsoft was accused of bundling their software. That was part of the antitrust concern that they had. In this case, it look like they won't be going after that, and that is going to pave the way for XP to come out October 25th without any concerns.

HARRIS: We will talking about this off and on for the last few weeks or so, about Microsoft being on pins and needles because XP is such a big part of their future right now.

SIEBERG: Right. It's a huge part of their future. Analyst are looking at it as the biggest release from Microsoft since Windows 95 came out several years ago. Microsoft is really pinning a lot on this. They're seeing it as their next big thing. A lot of computer makers are also seeing it as a key component when they're making these new PCs. People get upgrades and that sort of thing. It really is a major part of the economy right now, which may be part of reason why the Justice Department made this decision.

HARRIS: Do we know more about how Microsoft, or is planning on changing its products and its businesses now? Going with the philosophy and procedure they had in place up until now, Microsoft is proceeding regardless of anything that's been going on. They've been pushing Windows XP for a while now. And I think this is really just solidifying that. Microsoft obviously can see this as a victory for them in a sense. So I think they're just going to proceed as they have been going about in the past.

HARRIS: Now that this potential roadblock has been removed, how soon are folks going to see this XP on the markets?

SIEBERG: Well, actually, you can get through certain PC makers, Web sites. Some PC makers are putting it on their new computers now. You can order them. A number of computer makers like Gateway, I believe, and Compaq have been putting them on their new PCs. October 25th the official street day. The official release date when the consumer with go out and buy windows XP and upgrade their system. There's a lot of components to windows XP may or may not be suitable for someone's computer. They may not want to get it. That's the official release date, when the consumer can come out, buy Windows XP and then upgrade their particularly system. There's a lot of components to Windows XP that may or may not be suitable for someone's computer. They may not want to get it, but that is the official release date, October 25th.

HARRIS: OK, they dodged this big bullet. XP had better be good.

SIEBERG: Yes, that's what Microsoft is certainly hoping.

HARRIS: George Sieberg, thank you very much. Appreciate it. We'll talk with you later on about this and some other things as well.

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