ActiveX Sparks Explosive Growth Of Software Components for the Internet

REDMOND, Wash., July 26, 1996 —
The explosive growth of ActiveX
™
, the technology for building reusable software components, has spurred the development of a rapidly growing component industry. ActiveX technology makes it easy to create, integrate and reuse software components over the Internet or intranets. With ActiveX, developers can create components in any programming language, integrate them with any scripting language, and run those components from any type of application, including Web browsers as well as many of the world’s most popular business applications. Assembling Web sites from a wide variety of existing software components speeds time to market, allows Web site producers to build more engaging and effective sites, and results in a more intriguing and productive experience for Web surfers.

Giga Information Group estimates that the ActiveX component market will generate $240 million in revenues this year. John Rymer, vice president of research at Giga, projects this market will grow to more than $2 billion by the year 2000.

“ActiveX is bringing component-based development to the Internet today,”
said Paul Maritz, group vice president of the platforms group at Microsoft Corp.
“We are delighted to see ActiveX serving as the foundation for the vibrant and rapidly growing software component industry.”

The massive industry support for ActiveX is illustrated at multiple levels:

  • Component availability. Over 1,000 ActiveX components are available today from hundreds of developers for use both over the Internet and in line-of-business applications. The number of controls available is growing from month to month at double-digit rates. To see a small sample of the controls available, visit the ActiveX Component Gallery at .

  • Development tools. ActiveX components can be created or used with a myriad of development tools spanning a range of programming languages, including leading tools such as Borland® C++, Borland Delphi® , Java
    ™, the Microsoft® Visual Basic® programming system, the Microsoft Visual C++® development system set, Sybase® PowerBuilder
    ™, and Symantec® C++.

  • Component containers. ActiveX components can be
    “hosted” in many of the most popular applications used every day by tens of millions of people, including Lotus Notes® , Lotus SmartSuite
    ™
    , Microsoft Office and Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0.

  • Web producers and corporate developers. Millions of developers are using ActiveX components today to speed delivery time and add functionality to their Web sites or business solutions.

  • Customers. Customers are purchasing over $200 million per year in ActiveX software components. Many of the largest corporations in the world are using ActiveX technology to deploy mission-critical, line-of-business applications.

  • Industry infrastructure. There are 11 companies with Web sites that provide information, education and products for ActiveX, including:

    • CMP

    • CNET

    • CyberSource Corp.

    • Developers Workshop

    • Fawcette Publications

    • Innovision

    • Micro Modeling Associates

    • Online Interactive

    • Part Bank

    • Programmer’s Paradise

    • Xtras

  • Cross-platform development. In conjunction with Macromedia Inc. and MetroWerks Inc., Microsoft is working to bring ActiveX to the Macintosh® , and with Bristol Technology Inc., Mainsoft Corp. and Software AG to bring ActiveX to UNIX® .

ActiveX technology is in its third generation, the product of constant refinement and industry feedback. As a result, ActiveX is a robust, comprehensive, high-performance object technology that is being widely deployed both on the Internet and on intranets for mission-critical business applications. Built on the Component Object Model (COM), ActiveX supports the seamless integration of software while Distributed COM (DCOM) transparently integrates those same components when distributed across the Internet and private networks. ActiveX also provides a proven business opportunity for ISVs to successfully develop and market software components.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft, ActiveX, Visual Basic and Visual C++ are registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and or other countries.

Borland and Delphi are registered trademarks of Borland International Inc.

Sybase is a registered trademark of Sybase Inc.

PowerBuilder is a trademark of PowerSoft Corp.

Symantec is a registered trademark of Symantec Corp.

Louts Notes is a registered trademark and SmartSuite is a trademark of Lotus Development Corp.

Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer Inc.

UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company Ltd.

Java is a trademark of Sun Microsystems Inc.

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages.

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