Gates Launches IE 5, Commits To Win 98 Second Edition

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March 18, 1999 (12:00 AM EST)

Gates Launches IE 5, Commits To Win 98 Second Edition

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates officially blessed Internet Explorer 5.0 with proverbial high fives Thursday, and he parlayed the launch event into promotion for the second edition of Windows 98.

Due in retail and through OEM channels this fall, Windows 98 Second Edition will contain IE 5.0 and technology that supports multiple devices connecting to the Internet through one modem, Gates said. It does not dramatically change the user interface and is not considered a major upgrade. However, Gates said, it will "take less than 15 minutes from install to being online with the full power of the Internet."

Gates also debuted the latest Web browser at a low-key, new-product promotion at the software giant's headquarters. IE 5.0 sports a number of new features designed to make traversing the Web easier. It is available now for Win 3.x, 95, 96, NT and HP-UX for free download from Microsoft's website. A Macintosh version is set for release this fall. No Linux version is planned.

"IE, like all our Windows technologies is a platform, surprises us where people can go with them," Gates said inside Microsoft's on-site TV studios, which was decked out like a living room complete with fireplace and bookshelves.

While the "browser wars" have largely evolved into "portal wars," the release is significant as it comes during a six-week recess of the antitrust trial brought against Microsoft in large part because of its integration of its browser and market-dominate operating systems. Still, IE 5.0 is sparking much less hoopla and fanfare than did the launch of its predecessor IE 4.0, which was ushered onto the public stage at a gala event in a San Francisco waterfront warehouse.

Microsoft executives dodged a question about removing IE 5.0 from the OS, saying it is part of the OS and "not going anywhere."

Gates repeatedly referred to IE 5.0 as part of the Windows experience, and he said it "works faster to save users time."

"The mission all of Microsoft is focused on is taking the Internet and turning it into the most powerful tool of all time that will change how we do business, how we communicate, and how we entertain ourselves," Gates said.

IE 5.0 includes a new junk-mail filer, better videoconferencing technology, and new customization features that allow corporate and personal users to adapt it to their needs. A Web Accessories function lets third-party websites build extensions to the interface. IE 5.0 also has increased its searching capabilities with one-click access to more search engines and tools for saving favorites, histories, and showing related links.

Other features include a Windows Radio Player that lets users listen to radio stations from around the world while surfing the Net, as well as several customization options.

Microsoft also has included new content for IE 5.0 including Bloomberg Financial Markets, The New York Times on the Web, and, of course, Microsoft's MSN portal site. E-mail address search partners include InfoSpace and Bigfoot. Tighter integration with Hotmail is another new feature.

RCN, a large, Princeton, N.J.-based ISP, switched over from Netscape to IE as its preferred browser because of issues around supportabililty, said David Epstein, president of the RCN Internet division. "IE 5 has a better user interface, and it is going to be less expensive for us to support," Epstein said.

One Microsoft IE 5.0 developer described IE 5.0 as "faster, more stable, and tougher to crash" than earlier versions. The competition views it as merely an "incremental" release.

"IE 5 represents a minor upgrade to what they've had in the past, rather than anything new and wonderful," said Saul Goldforb, Netscape client-services product manager.

Microsoft's main rival in the browser market said Netscape Communicator 4.5 has popular features such as AOL Instant Messenger and Smart Browsing, which IE 5.0 lacks. Goldforb also said IE 5.0 is a chunkier download than Communicator or Netscape's upcoming Gecko, an open source-code technology.

Gecko is due out later this month, and the first beta of Communicator 5.0 is expected in the first half of 1999 with a release in the second half.