Microsoft is expected to start shipping a modified version of its Windows XP operating system for the European market to PC manufacturers from 15 June, as part of its European Commission anti-trust settlement.

The new Windows XP Home Edition N and Windows XP Professional Edition N is being distributed without Microsoft’s Windows Media Player as ordered by the Commission, which wants to make it easier for the likes of Real Networks and Apple to compete in the media player market.

Microsoft had originally proposed calling the new operating system Windows XP Reduced Media Edition, which was rejected by the European Commission.