Global Dispatches: Taiwan targets Microsoft in antitrust probe

August 25, 2008 (Computerworld)

Taiwan Targets Microsoft in Probe

TAIPEI -- The Taiwan Fair Trade Commission last week launched an investigation to determine whether Microsoft Corp. holds a monopoly position in the island's software market and, if so, whether the firm abuses it.

A spokeswoman for the commission said that the investigation will look into complaints that Microsoft is limiting consumer choice by restricting the availability of Windows XP on new PCs, and that its pricing schemes are unfair.

If Microsoft is found to have violated Taiwanese antitrust laws, it faces fines of up to $25 million New Taiwan ($797,450 U.S.).

"We fully intend to comply with the process and make sure they get all the information they need," said Matt Pilla, Microsoft's director of public relations in Asia.

Dan Nystedt, IDG News Service

Botswana Invests In Undersea Cable

GABORONE, Botswana -- The government of Botswana this month said it has invested $100 million (U.S.) in Africa's second-biggest submarine-cable project, which will link countries in eastern Africa and connect them to Europe.

Construction of the East Africa Submarine Cable System, which will run under the Indian Ocean from South Africa to Sudan, is expected to be completed by 2010.

Botswana is also negotiating with Namibia and Angola to determine the most feasible way for it to access an existing undersea cable that runs up the western coast of Africa, said Duke Lifhoko, Botswana's minister of trade and industry.

Michael Malakata, IDG News Service

Briefly Noted

Spending on IT products and services in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to reach almost $523 billion (U.S.) this year, according to Gartner Inc. The research firm also estimated that the compound annual growth rate of IT spending in the region will total 9.3% through 2012, compared with 4.5% in the U.S.

Computerworld Hong Kong staff

This version of the story originally appeared in Computerworld's print edition.