Microsoft has decided to remove Smart Tags from upcoming versions of Internet Explorer and Windows XP.

Smart Tags automatically add "links" to Web content that send a reader to related content. Ok, If you are not following here's an example: with Smart Tags a page that contained the word "browser" (we all love that word) might offer a link to a tech dictionary defining the word, or it might link to Microsoft's download page.

And many site developers criticized the idea of anyone changing the make-up of their pages. Microsoft offered to turn the default on Smart Tags to "off" and make it possible for sites to turn Smart Tags off by adding meta tags to their pages. But such solutions were spotty at best and would have forced companies to spend time and money protecting themselves from a "feature" of questionable benefit.

Even though Smart Tags were included in the beta version of Internet Explorer, they will be removed in the final version of Windows XP.

Smart Tags still remain on Office XP, however the difference there is that users can control documents they have created, while with Smart Tags for the Web have the ability to change web sites without the consent of the web site creator(s).

Microsoft said that there's a possibility that Smart Tags might be brought back into its browser and operating system in some revised form in the future.