Microsoft now an Internet Company

Microsoft Corp. recently announced what it believes is the industry’s most comprehensive and compelling Internet strategy. The company will support and enhance the Internet by integrating the PC platform with the rapidly emerging public network.

“We have taken into account every key element of the Internet from the server and client platforms to the tools, applications and on-line services and game and information content,” said Rajiv Nair, managing director, Microsoft Corp. (India) Pvt.Ltd.

While it is correct that initially Microsoft seemed to lag behind in the Internet race, it is also pertinent to add that today, the company is moving into over drive and desperately attempting to make up lost ground.

Recognizing that the Internet, hailed as the most important technology development since the introduction of the IBM PC in the late 1970s, will soon become all pervasive, Microsoft is trying to lead the way into the next stage, where access to the Internet will simply be a common element of all computing. In addition, the company promises to provide web developers and producers all tools needed to create the content for the users.

Speaking at a press conference Rajiv Nair said: “The opportunities presented by the Internet permeate the thinking of all our product planning and product development efforts.” Quoting Bill Gates from an earlier meeting in Redmond, Nair  added: “Our focus on the Internet is critical to every part of our business. I assign the Internet the highest level of priority.” Microsoft is taking a long term approach to the Internet in terms of investment and development.

To optimize the offer of the Internet, Microsoft has focused its efforts on both its platforms and application products. “We see our role as providing unity between the PC and the Internet so that customers can leverage their existing investments in PCs and take advantage of the new investments in the Internet,” added Mena Ganesh, practice manager, Microsoft Consulting Services, Microsoft Corporation (India).

The Windows Internet Platform
Microsoft plans to meld the Internet and the desktop PC into a unified, consistent experience for users and for those development solutions. The focus, however, is on Windows and efforts are on to evolve it into a better platform are on to evolve in into a better platform for browsing information. “In future versions, browsing will occur independent of the location, be it the hard disk, the network or the Internet,” opined Nair. “The Windows Internet platform will unify Web pages and Office files, allow users to edit documents and spreadsheets over the Internet and simplify connectivity to the Internet by just a single mouse click.”

The current version of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 2.0 (I.E. 2.0) for Windows 3.1 Windows for Workgroups, Windows 95, Windows NT and Macintosh is already available in the market. The next version. Internet Explorer 3.0 (I.E. 3.0) which is in the beta phase today is expected to hit the market in the next quarter.

Recognizing the increased use of Internet technologies by the business community to integrate business applications with the Internet and the Intranet, Microsoft has equipped the Windows NT Server with the Internet Information Server (IIS). “The Internet Information server is designed to be fast, secure and reliable and helps companies to create Web sites and publish information for their internal use as well as for sharing with the external world,” explained Pallavi Budhiraja, consultant, Microsoft Consulting Services, Microsoft Crop.

“The Internet Server API, which has been developed cooperatively to be an open standard ensures that the existing business applications can be linked to the applications that would be running on the Intranets.”

Active X helps you out
To meet the challenges faced by Web developers and Web site producers, to create active and dynamic content, the company has come out the Visual Basis based Active X technology, which enable developers to create interactive content for both the personal computer and the internet.

“Envisaging a seamless environment where users can move from local computers to the LAN, the WAN and the Internet, all office applications have been extended to provide this functionality”, said Meend Ganesh.

For instance explained Ganesh, “Internet Assistant allows users to read and write HTML files and Web documents from within Office applications such as Word and Excel, Front page helps users to author and publish documents individually or in collaborative effort for the Web.”

According to company sources: “Developers can incorporate ‘Viewers’ into Web server or client software enabling users to view and print Office bases files even within the full applications on their local machines.”