Microsoft wordt in stukjes gehakt?

MSNBC news schrijft dat insiders in de anti-trust zaak tegen Microsoft zeggen dat de kans groot is dat Microsoft wordt opgedeelt in drie aparte bedrijven. Er komen dan waarschijnlijk de onderdelen OS, internet en software maar Internet Explorer mag dan wel geïntegreerd worden met Windows (gelukkig?):

WASHINGTON, April 24 — The Justice Department and 19 states are leaning toward asking a court to split Microsoft Corp. into two or three separate companies in a plan designed to end the software giant’s monopoly in the U.S. computer industry, people familiar with the discussions said over the weekend.

Under a Justice Department plan being shared with states and industry executives, Microsoft would be forced to split off the Windows operating system from the rest of the company, sources said. The Windows company would be permitted to include functions that permit browsing of the Internet.
Microsoft then would be forced to spin off a second company that sells its software applications, such as a word processor and the Excel spreadsheet programs. That company also might get parts of the company that make the Internet browser, the software used to access the World Wide Web, sources said.
If Microsoft is divided into three companies, sources said, the third would be an Internet company that would get the browser and the Microsoft Network, which is the Internet service provider and Web portal that competes with America Online Inc. and other companies