However two of the original complainants, Ciao and Foundem, already have links to Microsoft.

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He also announced a partnership with Dell, which will soon come loaded with Microsoft's Windows Live suite of software, and links between Windows Live and the social-networking site, Facebook.

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Microsoft envisions some version of this software becoming the home platform that links all devices.

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Facebook already has a relationship with Microsoft, which is the exclusive provider of banner advertising and sponsored links on the site.

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While Microsoft Windows 8 on Surface could ease security concerns and provide direct links to Office apps such as Excel, deVera is skeptical about its chances.

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Eikon links to Excel with one click and will soon be fully integrated with the Microsoft Office suite so users can pull data and charts from the system into Word or PowerPoint.

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Thomas Vinje, a Brussels lawyer for the FairSearch Coalition, another group of technology companies including Microsoft, Expedia Inc. (EXPE) and Nokia Oyj (NOK1V), said Google displays links to its own search services differently from links to competitors, resulting in preferential treatment in comparison to similar services.

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