REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 15, 1996 — Microsoft Corp. today introduced a new version of the Microsoft® Internet Explorer Starter Kit, available immediately as both a standalone product and a component of the Microsoft Windows® 95 operating system retail box. The Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit is the easy, complete way for users of the Windows 95, Windows NT® Workstation 4.0, Windows 3.1 and Macintosh operating systems to connect to and fully experience the Internet.
The Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit allows new users to experience the World Wide Web and to sign up to use the Internet with the easy-to-use Internet Connection Wizard. It offers one month of free connect time and provides additional features users may want to access once they become more experienced on the Internet. New features in the Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit include these:
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Cross-platform versions. A single CD-ROM contains the award-winning Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 for Windows 95 and Windows NT Workstation 4.0, Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.1 for Windows 3.1, and Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.1 for Macintosh. Versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer for Macintosh and Windows 3.1 on 3.5-inch disks are also included in the kit.
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The Internet Connection Wizard (not available on Windows NT). Once users are ready to get online, the Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit makes it simple. The Internet Connection Wizard, included for users of Windows 3.1, Windows 95 and Macintosh, takes them step-by-step through signing up with an Internet service provider (ISP) and connecting to the Internet. A user simply types his or her area code and telephone prefix, and the wizard provides a list of available ISPs, along with their fees and available services. After the user chooses an ISP, the wizard takes the user to that ISP’s Web site to set up an Internet account.
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Free connect time. When new members sign up using MSN
™
, The Microsoft Network, or MCI Internet, they receive one month of free, unlimited connection time*. The MSN offer is available to users of Windows 95 in the United States and Canada. The MCI Internet offer is available in the United States to users of all platforms supported by the Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit. -
ActiveX Gallery. To see the power of Microsoft Internet Explorer and view Web pages that take advantage of ActiveX
™
technologies, users can visit the ActiveX Gallery on the Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit CD-ROM. This collection of premier ActiveX Controls from 36 companies showcases the capabilities of ActiveX-enhanced Web pages. -
Personal Web Server for Windows 95. Users of Windows 95 can share HTML pages with other users over their corporate intranet or the Internet. (This feature is available only in the standalone version of the Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit.)
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Microsoft Hellbender
™
trial version for Windows 95. The Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit includes an Internet-enabled, multiplayer trial version of this popular action-packed sequel to the popular Microsoft Fury 3 ™
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SurfWatch trial version. Families, schools and anyone who needs to restrict access to explicit content on the Internet will appreciate SurfWatch for Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 by Spyglass Corp. SurfWatch automatically blocks sexually explicit or inappropriate World Wide Web, FTP and Gopher sites, Usenet newsgroups and Internet chat rooms. Combined with the Content Advisor feature in Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0, which is based on the PICS rating system, the Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit offers a safe way to browse the Web.
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Easy reference guides. Users receive the book
“A Beginner’s Guide to Microsoft Internet Explorer,”
which introduces them to Microsoft Internet Explorer and the Internet, as well as
“Five Easy Steps to Getting on the Internet,”
a quick reference guide that helps tell users what they need to know to get connected quickly.
“There’s never been more interest in getting connected to the Internet, and with the Internet Explorer Starter Kit, there’s no easier or more complete way to get on the Web,”
said Brad Chase, vice president, developer relations and marketing, Internet platform and tools division at Microsoft.
“By combining the award-winning Microsoft Internet Explorer browser for Windows and Macintosh platforms with the most complete set of Internet tools, the Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit takes easy Internet access to a higher level.”
Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit Also Included Free in Windows 95
In addition, Microsoft is now including a version of the new Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit in the Windows 95 retail box (both Upgrade and Standard), available immediately. The inclusion of the Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit in Windows 95 makes it easier for users of Windows 95 to connect to the Internet and provides a great incentive for users of the MS-DOS® operating system and 16-bit Windows to upgrade to Windows 95. Windows 95 is now the most convenient one-stop shopping opportunity for users to combine the advantages of a 32-bit operating system with the easy way to experience the Internet. Microsoft Windows 95 and Windows NT Workstation, high-performance, 32-bit, multitasking operating systems, are the premier platforms to host powerful yet easy-to-use Internet connectivity solutions using Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit Lets New Users Experience the Web Before Connecting
For new users who want to sample the Internet before logging on, the Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit CD-ROM includes content from 23 exciting Web sites including Entertainment Drive, ESPNet SportsZone, InvestorsEdge, Microsoft CarPoint
™
and National Geographic Online, to name a few. The sample sites allow new users to become comfortable exploring the Internet and to learn how Microsoft Internet Explorer offers unmatched access to all the content on the Web, without incurring any connect time charges.
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As Entertainment Drive expands beyond CSi CompuServe to the Web (www.eDrive
.com), we’re delighted to use exciting tools like ActiveX to help the entertainment community really come alive in cyberspace for new and experienced Web surfers alike,”
said Michael Bolanos, president and CEO of Entertainment Drive LLC.
“The timing of the release of the Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit is great, since our Oct. 21 Web launch will feature Cindy Crawford’s official cyberspace debut, and we’ll be able to offer something special to fans with Microsoft Internet Explorer.”
The Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit Grows With Users
Once users become experienced on the Internet, the Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit offers even more capabilities. Users can have phone conversations with several people, share applications, send e-mail, and more with the Microsoft NetMeeting
™
conferencing software 1.0 for Windows 95, Internet Mail and News for Windows 95 and Windows NT Workstation 4.0, and Comic Chat for Windows 95 and Windows NT Workstation 4.0.
Users with the popular Microsoft Office 95 suite of applications can create HTML documents for the Web using Internet Assistants for Microsoft Office or the authoring tool of their choice. They can easily post them to the Web via the Web Publishing Wizard included in the Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit, and host their Web pages free for one month with a special offer from Vservers.com. For details and restrictions, please visit the Vservers Web site at (http://www.vservers.com/) .
Pricing and Availability
The Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit is available at resellers nationwide for approximately $24.95. For a limited time, Microsoft is including a $10 rebate coupon in the retail version of the Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit. The rebate offer expires June 30, 1997.
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, Windows, Windows NT, MSN, ActiveX, Hellbender, Fury 3 , MS-DOS, CarPoint and NetMeeting are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
The Microsoft Network is operated by Microsoft Corp. on behalf of Microsoft Network LLC.
* MSN Offer: One month free trial is available to new MSN members in the United States or Canada only. A credit card is required. MSN premium charges, access charges (if access is purchased from a provider other than MSN), long-distance or toll charges may apply. Offer expires June 30, 1997.
MCI Internet Offer: Available only to new MCI Internet customers in the United States. A credit card is required. Offer expires June 30, 1997. Standard MCI Internet pricing applies after promotional period.
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Software Companies With Products in the Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit
