Goodbye Web Browser, Hello Integrated Functionality

Microsoft’s strategy for Internet Explorer took an interesting turn in late 1997 when Microsoft claimed that, once installed, Internet Explorer 3.0 could not be completely uninstalled from Windows 95.  This claim was made early on in the still-running antitrust trial against Microsoft, and hotly disputed by many, including the Department of Justice.  Again, Microsoft was undeterred.  In fact, in September 1997 they stepped up their efforts to improve upon version 3 by releasing an all new version – version 4 – one that was completely integrated into Windows 95, Windows NT and, when later released, Windows 98.

Internet Explorer 4 represented a quantum leap over the prior versions of Internet Explorer.  In 1990, Microsoft had unveiled its “Information at Your Fingertips” (IAYF) campaign.  According to Microsoft, IAYF means “the right information at the right time for the right purpose.”  Microsoft’s goal was to make finding, browsing and retrieving information easy, with access to the information location-independent.  Internet Explorer 4 was a major milestone in this campaign.  In fact, it was so critical to their vision, that Microsoft completely scrapped earlier betas and alphas of Internet Explorer in favor of the version that is available today.

Microsoft was targeting three major markets with this latest version.  For companies and organizations, Internet Explorer 4 would make users more productive and evangelize intranets, while allowing IS departments a granular level of control.  For home users, Internet Explorer 4 provided a much richer Internet experience.  For programmers and software developers, Internet Explorer 4 provided a platform for delivering interactive and compelling content.

But it was much more than that.  The launch of Internet Explorer 4 meant the end of the already extremely blurred line between Windows and Internet Explorer.  In Windows terminology, the word “shell” refers to the user interface (“UI”).  When Windows 95 debuted, the original Windows Program Manager shell was replaced with the Windows Explorer shell.  Explorer was a slick, new interface that caught on, and allowed novice users to quickly learn how to use Windows.  When a Windows 95 user installed Internet Explorer 4, their Explorer shell was replaced with Internet Explorer.  On the surface, the user didn’t notice much change.  The changes were there, however, and they were significant.  Internet Mail and News was replaced with Outlook Express, Microsoft Chat was added and Microsoft NetMeeting was upgraded.  In addition, Microsoft introduced a new feature called the “Active Desktop.”  This allowed Internet Explorer 4 users to replace their normal desktop and wallpaper with any web content they wanted.  Instead of icons and a single wallpaper image, Internet Explorer 4 users could, in effect, create their own custom UI for Windows.  It also brought drag-and-drop functionality to the Start Menu, and added integrated Favorites, a Quick Launch Bar and Address Bars.