Microsoft’s Jumpstart program under fire — Brazil probes Edge bundling practices amid Opera complaint

Microsoft currently runs a program called Jumpstart that offers PC manufacturers incentives tied to how Windows devices are configured.

On the surface, that sounds fairly standard. However, Brazil’s competition regulator, CADE, is now investigating whether the program effectively pressures manufacturers to preinstall Microsoft Edge in a way that limits rival browsers.

In simple terms, regulators want to know whether these incentives cross the line into restricting competition.

This also isn’t the first time Microsoft has faced criticism over how it promotes Edge. Many users have pointed out that searching for Google Chrome in Bing can trigger prompts encouraging people to stick with Edge instead.

Now, regulators are looking at whether similar tactics extend beyond software prompts and into agreements with PC makers themselves.

What CADE is actually investigating

CADE is an independent federal agency in Brazil responsible for protecting free competition. In this case, it is investigating whether Microsoft restricts PC manufacturers from preinstalling other browsers alongside Edge under its Jumpstart program.

If that restriction is proven, the agency could view it as anti-competitive.

CADE is investigating 10 different PC manufacturers over the issue, following Opera’s complaint.

It is also examining the contracts between Microsoft and those PC makers. The agency wants to understand how much room manufacturers were given to negotiate and whether the terms were flexible or effectively fixed.

The regulator is reviewing how many PCs were sold under the Jumpstart program between 2020 and 2025 and how those sales compare to devices sold outside the program.

It will also assess the financial impact on OEMs if they choose to leave Jumpstart. That includes examining the incentives Microsoft provides and whether those benefits could influence competition in the browser market.

What started the investigation?

The concern around Microsoft potentially acting in an anti-competitive way stems from a formal complaint filed by Opera. For those unfamiliar, Opera is another web browser that relies heavily on visibility and distribution to reach new users.

Opera is also part of the Browser Choice Alliance; a coalition of browser companies that argue Microsoft’s Windows practices make it harder for alternative browsers to compete fairly.

At the heart of the issue is whether Microsoft is using its commercial agreements with PC manufacturers to limit what those manufacturers can preinstall on new devices. If that is the case, it could give Microsoft an unfair advantage by reducing consumer choice at the point of purchase.

In a statement to Neowin, The Browser Choice Alliance has welcomed CADE’s move, framing it as a necessary step toward protecting competition and consumer choice. They stated:

It has been a turbulent few months for Microsoft, with one controversy following another, and now this investigation.

Whether the claims are well-founded remains to be seen, but for now, we will have to wait and see how the situation unfolds.

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