SAN JOSE, Calif., April 30, 1996 — Microsoft® Internet Explorer version 2.0 offers the broadest international support of any browser on the market today, delivering on Microsoft Corp.’s commitment to providing support for all popular platforms to users around the world. Microsoft Internet Explorer is available for the Windows® 95, Windows NT® , Macintosh®
and Windows 3.1 operating systems. In addition to its broad platform support, Microsoft Internet Explorer is available in more languages than any other browsing software: The version for Windows 95 is available in 24 major languages, while the version for Windows 3.1 will boast support of 20 languages, and the Macintosh version will be available in nine languages.
“Microsoft is committed to bringing the best Internet technology in the easiest-to-use form to the broadest audience of computer users around the world,”
said Brad Chase, general manager in the Internet platform and tools division at Microsoft.
“The cross-platform and international language support offered in Microsoft Internet Explorer is proof of Microsoft’s dedication to all its customers.”
Internet Explorer Momentum Builds With Broad Cross-Platform Support
Microsoft is currently previewing its next-generation browser, Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0, at Internet World in San Jose. Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 is the first Internet client to integrate ActiveXTM technologies, which enable developers to create highly interactive applications and content for the Internet. These technologies allow a World Wide Web site to be as rich and interactive as an action game, a multimedia encyclopedia or a productivity application. For the first time, a Web site will be limited only by its author’s imagination, not by the limitations of the technology. Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 goes to beta testing next month.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0 for Windows 3.1, announced today, allows users of Windows 3.1 to access the Internet with a high-speed, feature-rich Web browser for a 16-bit environment. This no-cost browser is easy to use and allows users of Windows 3.1 to view the latest pages on the Internet, access Internet newsgroups, and send and receive Internet e-mail.
The best Internet client for the Macintosh, Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0 for the Macintosh is fully compatible with Macintosh and Internet standards, offers the most responsive Internet performance for the Mac
™
platform, and supports a broad range of new interactive multimedia technologies for a more exciting Internet experience.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0 also has a major presence on retail store shelves. It is the core offering in an Internet Starter Kit for Windows 95, the easy, complete way for users to get on the Internet. In addition to Microsoft Internet Explorer, the new kit includes a demonstration disk that contains samples of actual Web sites, allowing users to test-drive the Internet before they connect; a comprehensive Internet guidebook with tips and tricks on how to access all the types of information the Internet offers; and 30 days of no-charge, unlimited access to the Internet and Web for new subscribers of MSN
™
, The Microsoft Network. The Internet Starter Kit is available today from retailers in the United States and is scheduled to be available in 20 countries by the end of May. The Internet Starter Kit sells for approximately $19.95 (U.S.). No-charge access time varies by country.
Industry Continues to Embrace Microsoft Internet Explorer
More than 8,000 developers have already created Web sites best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer. That number is continuing to climb by 350 sites each week.
Furthermore, more than 80 of the leading PC manufacturers ship Microsoft Internet Explorer preinstalled in their Windows 95-based PCs and more than 400 Internet service providers (ISPs) have licensed Microsoft Internet Explorer for redistribution to their customers worldwide.
Microsoft Corp. announced today that Time Warner Cable, Comcast Cable Communications Inc., Compagnie G
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rale de Videocommunication (CGV) and Singapore CableVision (SCV) will integrate Microsoft software on their cable networks to provide consumers with high-speed Internet services and distinctive local and regional online content. These four cable companies will deliver the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser to their customers. In addition, this summer, America Online Inc. (AOL) will make Microsoft Internet Explorer its built-in, default Web browser for its more than 5 million AOL users worldwide.
Comcast will use Microsoft’s public networks platform in one of its 1996 deployments, slated for the third quarter of 1996. Internet Explorer will be the packaged browser distributed in its planned cable-modem deployments. Time Warner has committed to deploying Microsoft Internet Explorer as its preferred browser in its 1996 deployments of LineRunner, the company’s cable online service. SCV has also selected Microsoft as a key software provider. The Singapore cable operator will integrate the Microsoft public networks platform, including Microsoft Internet Information Server and Microsoft Internet Explorer, into its network and plans to use Microsoft development tools to generate new and compelling content and media-rich applications.
Internet Explorer Boasts Broad International Support
Microsoft continues to lead the industry in international language support. Microsoft Internet Explorer is the only browser available in a version that makes the Web truly international by letting users view foreign-language Web pages from the U.S. version of Windows. Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0i allows users to view double-byte character-set information – such as Web pages with Japanese, Korean, Polish or Russian characters – on a U.S. version of Windows. This allows Web sites to be published in multiple languages and reach a global audience. Users can download Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0i now from the Microsoft Web site (http://www.microsoft.com/) at no charge, other than the cost of connect time, if any. The browser is also included in the Microsoft Internet Starter Kit.
In addition to Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0i, Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0 is available in an unprecedented number of localized language versions. Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0 for Windows 95 is available in the following 24 languages, more than any other Web browser on the market: Simplified Chinese (PRC), Traditional Chinese (Taiwan), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese (AT and NEC PC98), Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Portuguese (Iberian), Russian, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish.
Internet Explorer for Windows 3.1 is available in U.S. English today, with 19 additional language versions in development, including Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hangeul (Korean), Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Portuguese (Iberian), Russian, Spanish and Swedish. Most foreign language versions are scheduled to be available by mid-1996.
Microsoft Internet Explorer for the Macintosh is currently available in English. Support for eight additional languages is scheduled to be available by mid-1996. Languages that will be supported are Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazilian), Spanish and Swedish.
Microsoft offers local content, accessible at http://www.microsoft.com/, for 18 countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom.
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