REDMOND, Wash. and Amsterdam, the Netherlands, July 30, 1996 — Microsoft Corporation and EUnet International, one of the largest Internet access providers in Europe, today announced the initial phase of a licensing agreement to offer Microsoft®
Internet Explorer 3.0 as the preferred World Wide Web browser for EUnet companies in nine European countries. In return, EUnet will be a preferred supplier of Internet services to Internet Explorer 3.0 users in these countries. EUnet provides quality Internet services to half a million users in the countries that will join this initial phase of the distribution agreement, which include: Finland, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, France, Portugal, Austria and the Czech Republic. Microsoft and EUnet plan to extend the scope of this agreement and add a number of additional EUnet operations located in other countries in the near future.
“This is a major opportunity for Microsoft to continue our worldwide outreach efforts and to provide the latest version of Internet Explorer to the burgeoning community of Internet users in Europe,”
said Brad Silverberg, Senior Vice President, Internet Platforms and Tools Division at Microsoft . “Microsoft already offers the largest number of international language versions of any browser currently available today, and we intend to continue that leadership with Internet Explorer 3.0. We have always been committed to the international market, and this agreement with EUnet will allow us to reach a broad number of users across Europe.”
“This is a significant endorsement for the scope and quality of EUnet’s services, which will be accessible to Internet Explorer 3.0 users at the click of a mouse button,”
said Wim Vink, EUnet’s managing director.
“To be chosen by the world’s largest software organization as their lead partner in this strategic push to the Internet is praise indeed.”
“This agreement demonstrates the continuing momentum behind Internet Explorer 3.0 throughout Europe,”
said Bernard Vergnes, President of Microsoft Europe.
“As Internet use continues to grow in the European theater, we look forward to an ongoing relationship with EUnet to offer our browser technology to a growing number of users.”
This announcement comes as Microsoft is preparing the official launch of Internet Explorer 3.0, the most technically advanced and feature-rich browser on the market. Internet Explorer 3.0 offers unique HTML, ActiveX
™
, Java and Plug-in support, the best browsing experience and the most technically advanced development platform for end users, organizations and content developers.
Microsoft plans to offer Internet Explorer 3.0 in at least 25 languages, Internet Explorer 2.0 is already available today in 23 languages.
EUnet is Europe’s leading commercial Internet Service Provider, offering the full range of Internet Services, with current geographical coverage of 41 countries.
EUnet, which manages its own dedicated network infrastructure, also offers full local support services in each country of operation. Outside Europe EUnet has developed an expanding network of national and regional service providers, with the aim of continually extending the services it offers to customers world-wide.
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.
For More Information, Press Only:
Erin Brewer: Microsoft Corporation Telephone: (206) 882-8080 email: [email protected]
Graham Wilson: EUnet Telephone: 31-0-20-530-5324 email: [email protected]
http://www.microsoft.com http://www.EU.net
Microsoft and ActiveX are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
