SAN JOSE, Calif., April 30, 1996 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that Microsoft®
Internet Explorer version 3.0, the next major upgrade to its popular Web browser, will be the first to implement industry standards that will make video, voice and data communications over the Internet as easy and commonplace as an ordinary phone call. The browser will also be the first to include ActiveX
™
technologies that enable an active Internet alive with 3-D virtual reality environments and other rich, interactive multimedia.
Microsoft’s Internet conferencing software is the first to implement the communication standards announced by Intel Corp. and Microsoft and endorsed by more than 100 leading companies. The Internet conferencing software will allow users to communicate and collaborate over the Internet in new ways, including attending classes with live audio and video of a remote instructor, participating in real-time video teleconferencing with distant colleagues, and making long-distance video phone calls to friends and families for the cost of local phone access.
Microsoft is previewing the Internet conferencing and ActiveX technologies in Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 today in its booth 727 here at Internet World.
“Until now, the Internet has largely been about exchanging text messages or downloading static information; we’re now advising people to fasten their seat belts, because that all changes with Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0,”
said Brad Chase, general manager in the Internet platform and tools division at Microsoft.
“The new communications abilities will let users talk with each other and share their applications in real time for the first time, spurring a revolution in how we use the Internet. And with the new ActiveX technologies, Web sites can come alive with the rich interactivity of action games, multimedia encyclopedias and productivity applications – they’ll be limited only by their authors’ imaginations.”
Microsoft’s Internet conferencing capabilities are open and standards-based, complying with ITU/IETF international specifications. This compliance allows independent hardware and software developers to integrate, exploit and expand these features easily with their own products. Microsoft’s Internet conferencing supports the following features:
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Application sharing allows two or more users to share virtually any existing Windows®
operating system-based application across the Internet or corporate LAN, enabling business professionals and their clients around the world to review and edit documents without leaving their office. -
Whiteboard and chat allow groups of users conduct meetings with illustrations, text and comments on a shared whiteboard or text window.
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Multipoint communications allows multiple users to participate in real-time interactive conferences by making use of international standards.
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Internet audio allows point-to-point telephone conversations over a corporate intranet or the Internet.
“The IMTC is very pleased that Microsoft’s Internet conferencing software incorporates the international conferencing standards,”
said Neil Starkey, president of the International Multimedia Teleconferencing Consortium (IMTC).
“Microsoft’s commitment to standards will help ensure that both person-to-person and multipoint data, audio and video calls will interoperate across the Internet and the corporate intranet.”
Microsoft
Internet Explorer 3.0 Integrates ActiveX Technologies
Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 is the first Internet client software to integrate ActiveX technologies, for an active Internet alive with rich, interactive multimedia functionality. Independent developers, content authors, IS professionals and end users will benefit from the following advantages:
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The only Web browser to support current Internet technologies such as Frames, the Java
™
language, style sheets and JavaScript, as well as more than 1,000 current ActiveX controls (formerly called OLE controls), plus extensions for new ActiveX technologies -
An open ActiveX framework supported by more than 100 companies
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Cross-platform support for Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 and ActiveX technologies on a range of Windows and Macintosh®
operating systems -
A component architecture providing flexibility for users and developers
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Support for state-of-the-art multimedia technologies such as video streaming
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Built-in conferencing and Internet mail capabilities
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The only Web browser available in 21 languages in addition to English
In addition to embracing all popular Internet standards, Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 will extend the tools available to authors and developers for creating active content by integrating the family of ActiveX technologies, including ActiveX controls, the ActiveX script API and the ActiveMovie
™API. Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 also allows developers to extend their current Web pages with rich font selection including TrueType®
fonts and new HTML extensions for tables and frames, which Microsoft has submitted to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) for approval.
ActiveX technologies supported in Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 will be delivered on multiple platforms, giving users and developers a rich framework for innovation while making optimal use of their current expertise and investments in applications, tools and source code.
ActiveX technologies will allow IS professionals to create and deploy applications consistently on the desktop, the LAN, the Internet and on intranets without requiring redundant development efforts. Support for ActiveX documents in Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 will allow organizations to publish once, without converting internal documents to and from a separate set of Internet formats.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 will give users new ease of use with an enhanced and customizable toolbar, improved search and help capabilities, and keyboard Web-page navigation. Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 will also include the Content Advisor, which supports PICS-compatible content-rating systems and enables parents to choose the type of content accessible to their children. These new features will help ensure that Microsoft Internet Explorer remains an easy and exciting way to access the Internet.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 will be available in Chinese (Simple), Chinese (Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hangeul (Korean), Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Portuguese (Iberian), Russian, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish.
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, Windows and ActiveMovie are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Java is a trademark of Sun Microsystems Inc.
Macintosh and TrueType are registered trademarks of Apple Computer Inc.
For online product information:
Microsoft Internet Explorer Web page: http://www.microsoft.com/ie/
