Microsoft outlined the ways it is complying with a November antitrust settlement in a Monday conference call, but analysts say it is little more than Windows dressing. Microsoft also used the call to introduce a new licensing program for Windows communications protocols that have yet to be approved by the Justice Department. Federal trustbusters on Monday issued an advisory emphasizing that point.

Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith focused on four August milestones as part of Microsoft's compliance progress on the deal, which nine months later awaits the approval of a federal judge. In general, the settlement seeks to force Microsoft to treat PC makers and developers evenhandedly and disclose more of the underlying technology behind its software. However, critics charge that the company is using the settlement to raise prices. The first milestone came Thursday, when Microsoft put into place new Windows licensing agreements. On Tuesday, the software giant will begin licensing 113 communications protocols used by the Windows desktop operating system to work with the Windows Server products. On Aug. 28, Microsoft will release 272 previously undisclosed application programming interfaces (APIs) used to ensure that third-party software works well with Windows. Microsoft also revealed that Windows XP Service Pack 1 would ship in late August or in September.