Ballmer Dismisses Google's IE7 Concerns

Microsoft's outspoken CEO accused Google Thursday of wanting special treatment, saying the company is attempting to force Microsoft to change the way Internet Explorer 7 does search. Steve Ballmer made the comments following a speech given at the Churchill Club in Santa Clara, Calif., to CNET News.com.

Google has claimed that IE7 would allow Microsoft to have an unfair advantage by making its search engine the default for new users. However, both Microsoft and now Ballmer have disputed this notion. Microsoft will do nothing to change a user's search preference, they say.

For example, if a user has Yahoo set as its default search engine, that setting would carry over into IE7. But Google apparently objects to this, Ballmer claims, by wanting the user to see a list of search engines at first launch with Google listed first.

Right now, such an option is only shown when there is no default search engine, or when a user goes into the options to change it. Also, search engines are listed alphabetically, meaning several smaller providers, such as Ask.com, are listed before Google.

"Google wants us to prompt the users to change the defaults. They want to see a list of search providers, with the No. 1 search provider listed first," Ballmer told the news site.

Press reports have indicated that the company has complained to the Justice Department and the European Commission over Microsoft's proposed search plans in the new browser.

The co-founders of Google also had some choice words for Microsoft at their Press Day Wednesday. Executives used the words "monopoly" and "anti-competive" when talking about the Redmond company.

While saying Microsoft has a history of "not playing fair," Google co-founder Sergey Brin said his company was just too busy with its own products and services to watch what Microsoft was doing.

Fellow co-founder Larry Page added that they wanted to focus on innovation instead.