SEATTLE (12-07-95) - Microsoft Corp. laid out its Internet strategy here today, announcing plans to license the Java Web programming language from Sun Microsystems Inc. and to distribute browser technology at no charge over the Internet.
In a pointed reference to Netscape Communications Corp., which has the most popular browser, CEO Bill Gates said, "We're not saying you can use it for free for 90 days, or that next year we will charge you a bunch of money. We're saying it's free."
Gates also announced that Microsoft plans to bundle its Web browser and server applications with its core operating system products.
An Internet add-on kit for Windows 95 and Windows NT will be launched next year, and will become standard features of both products in later releases. A subset of the Internet functions will also be made available for Windows 3.11.
The add-on kit will enable users to view both local and Internet resources in Web format. It will enable users to collaborate on shared documents, as well as use telephone services over the Internet, Gates said.
Gates also announced that in the first quarter of 1996 the company will ship extensions to its BackOffice Suite, including the Tiger media server, the Merchant commerce server, and content and site management extensions. A beta test version of the Web development tool Blackbird, now named Internet Studio, will be released in the first quarter of 1996, he said, but he did not announce a final release date.
Analysts at the briefing said that Gates had done a convincing job in presenting the company's Internet case.
"I think they did a very good job. It does look like Bill has turned the ship," said Rob Enderle, an analyst with Giga Information Group Inc. in Santa Clara, Calif.
"I think Gates was quite convincing. They have an opportunity that no one else has -- to build the Web into the most popular desktop operating system in the world," said Jesse Berst, editor of the Windows Watcher newsletter based in Redmond, Wash.
"I was impressed, particularly by the inclusion of the Web server with Windows NT," said Karl Wong, an analyst with market research Dataquest Inc., based in San Jose, Calif.
Microsoft also made several related announcements:
--Visual Basic Script, a scripting language based on Visual Basic designed to create active online content for the Web.
--A cross-licensing deal with Oracle Corp., in which it will license the Oracle PowerBrowser Ole Custom Control software and distribute it to third-party developers, and Oracle will license Visual Basic Script for inclusion in the PowerBrowser.
--Spyglass Inc. will enhance its Mosaic Web browser with support for Ole controls, Visual Basic Script and the latest HyperText Markup Language (HTML) extensions, as well as offer Microsoft server technologies including secure transfer technology (STT) and private transfer technology (PTT).
--Beta versions of Internet Explorer for Windows NT, Windows 3.1 and the Macintosh.
--Active Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML), for creating interactive 3D Web content.
Microsoft Corp., in Redmond, Wash., can be reached at +1 (202) 882- 8080.
[Copyright 1995 IDG News Service, International Data Group Inc. All rights reserved.]