BRUSSELS, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Brazil's antitrust enforcer

CADE has opened an investigation into Microsoft ( MSFT ), days

after Norwegian browser Opera complained about

Microsoft's ( MSFT ) Edge, according to a CADE statement published late

Thursday on its website.

Opera, in its complaint filed on Tuesday, alleged that

Microsoft ( MSFT ) pre-installs Edge as the default browser across

Windows devices and computers, thereby preventing rivals from

competing on the merits of the products.

Opera had 6.78% of the Brazilian desktop browser market in

June versus Edge's 11.52% and market leader Google Chrome's 75%.

CADE said it had opened an administrative inquiry and set an

August 15 deadline for Microsoft ( MSFT ) to respond to Opera's

allegations about its Windows operating system licences, the

Microsoft ( MSFT ) 365 software and its Jumpstart programme.

The Jumpstart programme allows Microsoft ( MSFT ) clients to build

autonomous artificial intelligence agents for routine tasks, a

move which could help the company monetise its billion-dollar

investments in AI. Other Big Tech companies have similar tools.

Microsoft ( MSFT ) did not immediately respond to emailed requests

for comment.

Opera has been complaining about its competitor since

December 2007 when it took its grievance about the latter's

internet Explorer browser bundled with its Windows operating

system to the European Commission, resulting in a

561-million-euro ($640 million) fine for the U.S. tech giant.

($1 = 0.8764 euros)