ActiveX Sparks Explosive Growth Of Software Components for the

Do Young Rhee (dyrhee@microsoft.com)
Sun, 04 Aug 1996 01:21:54 +0900

July 26, 1996
ActiveX Sparks Explosive Growth
Of Software Components for the Internet
World's Only Commercially Successful Components Industry; Over $200
Million in Revenues
REDMOND, Wash. - July 26, 1996 - The explosive growth of ActiveX?, the
world's first and only commercially viable technology for building
reusable software components, has spurred the development of a rapidly
growing component industry. The ActiveX technology makes it easy to
create, integrate and reuse software components over the Internet or
intranets. With ActiveX, developers can create components in any
programming language, integrate them with any scripting language and run
those components from any type of application, including Web browsers as
well as many of the world's most popular business applications.
Assembling Web sites from a wide variety of existing software components
speeds time to market, allows Web site producers to build more engaging
and effective sites, and results in a more intriguing and productive
experience for Web surfers.
Giga Information Group estimates that ActiveX component market will
generate $240 million in revenues this year. John Rymer, analyst at
Giga, projects this market will grow to more than $2 billion in the year
2000.
"ActiveX is bringing component-based development to the Internet today"
said Paul Maritz, group vice president of the platforms group at
Microsoft Corp. "We are delighted to see ActiveX serving as the
foundation for the vibrant and rapidly growing software component
industry."
The massive industry support for ActiveX is illustrated at multiple
levels:
* Component availability. Over 1,000 ActiveX components are available
today from hundreds of developers for use both over the Internet and in
line-of-business applications. The number of controls available are
growing from month to month at double-digit rates. To see a small
sample of the controls available, visit the ActiveX Component Gallery at
http://microsoft.com/activex/gallery/.
* Development tools. ActiveX components can be created or used with a
myriad of development tools spanning a range of programming languages,
including leading tools like Borland C++, Borland? Delphi?, Java, the
Microsoft? Visual Basic? programming system, the Microsoft Visual C++?
development system set, Sybase? PowerBuilder?, and Symantec? C++.
* Component containers. ActiveX components can be "hosted" in many of
the most popular applications used every day by tens of millions of
people including Lotus Notes?, Lotus SmartSuite?, Microsoft Office, and
Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0.
* Web producers and corporate developers. Millions of developers are
using ActiveX components today to speed delivery time and add
functionality to their Web sites or business solutions.
* Customers. Customers are purchasing over $200 million per year in
ActiveX software components. Many of the largest corporations in the
world are using ActiveX technology to deploy mission-critical,
line-of-business applications, including Harper Collins, MCI and
Montgomery Securities.
* Industry infrastructure. There are 11 Web sites providing
information, education and products for ActiveX including CMP
(http://www.activextra.com/), CNET (http://www.cnet.com/activex/),
CyberSource Corp. (http://www.software.net/components/activex.htm/),
Developers Workshop (http://www.developers.com/), Fawcette Publications
(http://www.windx.com/), Innovision (http://www.active-x.com/), Micro
Modeling Associates (http://www.netcompany.com/activex/), Online
Interactive (http://www.webtools.atoncesoftware.com/), Part Bank
(http://www.partbank.com/activex/), Programmer's Paradise
(http://www.pparadise/microsoftlogin/), and Xtras
(http://www.xtras.com/activex/).
* Cross-platform development. In conjunction with Macromedia Inc. and
MetroWerks Inc., Microsoft is working to bring ActiveX to the
Macintosh?, and with Bristol Technology Inc., Mainsoft Corp. and
Software AG to bring ActiveX to UNIX?.
The ActiveX technology is in its third generation, the product of
constant refinement and industry feedback. As a result, ActiveX is a
robust, comprehensive, high-performance object technology that is being
widely deployed both on the Internet and on intranets for
mission-critical business applications. Built on the Component Object
Model (COM), ActiveX supports the seamless integration of software while
Distributed COM (DCOM) transparently integrates those same components
when distributed across the Internet and private networks. ActiveX also
provides a proven business opportunity for ISVs to successfully develop
and market software components.
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, ActiveX, Visual Basic and Visual C++ are registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and or
other countries.
Borland and Delphi are registered trademarks of Borland International
Inc.
Sybase is a registered trademark of Sybase Inc.
PowerBuilder is a trademark of PowerSoft Corp.
Symantec is a registered trademark of Symantec Corp.
Louts Notes is a registered trademark and SmartSuite is a trademark of
Lotus Development Corp.
Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer Inc.
UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries,
licensed exclusively through X/Open Company Ltd.

For more information, press only:
Christian DeNike, Waggener Edstrom, (206) 637-9097, cdenike@wagged.com

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional
information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at
http://microsoft.com/corpinfo/ on Microsoft's corporate information
pages.

Thanks,
Doyoung Rhee
(02) 531-4628 , dyrhee@microsoft.com