Microsoft Ships Internet Explorer 2.0, Fastest-Growing Web Browser for Windows 95-Based PCs

Logo-Licensing Program Implemented to Ensure Best-Possible Viewing Experience

Redmond, Wash. — Nov. 27, 1995 — Microsoft Corp. today released the final version of Microsoft® Internet Explorer 2.0, the newest version of the popular Internet browser for the Windows® 95 operating system.  Internet Explorer is the fastest-growing browser software in the industry; approximately one-third of licensed users of Windows 95 who use an Internet browser obtained the browser within 90 days of the release of version 1.0.  In response to the fast growth, Microsoft also announced the Internet Explorer licensing program.  Internet Explorer version 2.0 is widely available for downloading at no charge to licensed users of Windows 95 via the Internet.

Internet Explorer 2.0 offers easy Internet access and use, high performance, and advanced security.  In addition, it is the first browser to support advanced multimedia and 3-D graphics capabilities.

“We’re excited that customers have made Internet Explorer the fastest-growing browser on the market,” said Brad Chase, general manager in the personal systems division at Microsoft.  “Customers indicated they wanted a browser that was compatible with existing standards, simple to use, fast and which provided easy access to the Internet.  Internet Explorer 2.0 provides that and also delivers state-of-the-art features such as 3-D graphics and advanced security.”

In less than three months, Internet Explorer has become one of the most popular browsers on the market.  Hundreds of thousands of users of Windows 95 have downloaded Internet Explorer since its initial availability in August. Version 2.0 can be downloaded from the Microsoft Windows World Wide Web home page (http://www.microsoft.com/windows) at no charge (other than the cost, if applicable, of online time while downloading).  Developers and “webmasters” can also download Internet Explorer as part of the Internet Toolbox, an online Internet Software Development Kit that is scheduled to be available in December.

“Internet Explorer makes surfing the Internet really easy — a single click gives me access to any desired site,” said Dr. Roger Rehr, attending cardiologist at the Reading Hospital and Medical Center.  “I’ve used other Internet browser software, both 16- and 32-bit, but now use Internet Explorer exclusively.  I know that Internet Explorer gives me the best possible view of content.  In fact, there are several sites on the Web that I can only see fully with Internet Explorer 2.0.”

Internet Explorer will be available in twelve additional languages, most of which are scheduled to ship within a month.  The languages supported are Brazilian Portuguese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Pan-European English, Spanish and Swedish.

Logo Program Assures Users of Richest-Possible Viewing Experience

Under the new Internet Explorer Logo Licensing Program, Web publishers can display an authorized Microsoft logo on their Web site, indicating the site works well with Internet Explorer 2.0.  The familiar Windows® logo assures users that a Web site was specifically designed to provide them with the richest-possible viewing experience and that it contains some of the Internet’s most advanced features and technologies.  Some of the cool new technologies that Web authors can take advantage of include marquees (moving text), inline AVIs, table colors, watermarks and background sounds.  Microsoft is also working with qualified developers to provide an automated process that will enable visitors to automatically download the most current version of Internet Explorer directly from the developer’s Web site.

Web publishers, developers and others can obtain further information on the logo licensing program by visiting the Microsoft home page.

Better Web Support, Advanced Security and 3-D Animation

With the release of Internet Explorer 2.0, Microsoft offers full support for Web standards supported by other popular browsers on the market, such as Netscape Navigator.

“Internet Explorer’s compatibility with existing standards is key,” said Tom Hagopian, general manager of ESPNET at ESPN.  “Now all Internet Explorer 2.0 users can experience the full richness of the ESPNET SportsZone site.”

Internet Explorer 2.0 is the first browser to offer enhanced Internet capabilities, including the following:

• Improved Web support.  Internet Explorer 2.0 provides superior integration with today’s Web pages by supporting Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) 3.0 tables, access to Internet newsgroups, a toolbar for instant access to the world’s most powerful Web search engines, and the ability to run animations using client-pull technology.
• Advanced security.  Internet Explorer 2.0 offers comprehensive support for current Internet security standards, including secure sockets layer (SSL) and RSA encryption, which allows integration with secure sites; private communication technology (PCT) and efficient and secure upgrade to the SSL protocol; and secure transaction technology (STT), an electronic-payment technology jointly developed by Microsoft and Visa International.
• Multimedia support.  Internet Explorer 2.0 provides new features and HTML extensions to take full advantage of the most sophisticated Web pages.  New features include inline AVIs for embedded videos, scrolling banners, background audio, context-sensitive menus, and inline Virtual Reality Markup Language for fast viewing of 3-D objects and animation.

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 and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

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