Microsoft has announced a major concession on the question of software interoperability, but the European Commission has said that it will take time to decide if the move will affect its competition probe into the company.

The Government agency responsible for technology in the classroom has complained about Microsoft to the European Commission

Microsoft will appeal a €899 million European Commission fine, it has said. The company said that it wanted a court to review the fine in order to "seek clarity" on the issue.

A landmark court ruling which last year backed the European Commission's last competition action against Microsoft may not be as helpful in its current action as has been widely thought, according to a competition lawyer.