Intel and Microsoft Sign Cross Licensing Agreement for Communications Technology and Interoperability Across the Internet; Standards-based Solutions to Two Key Problems Limiting Multimedia Communications Today on the Internet — Finding People and Getting Connected

Business Wire, July 17, 1996

SANTA CLARA, Calif./REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 17, 1996--Intel Corp. and Microsoft Corp. today announced the signing of a broad cross-licensing agreement aimed at making it possible for millions of people to easily place multimedia voice, video and data conferencing calls over the Internet.

The key challenges for widespread communications over the Internet are to make it as easy as today's telephone network to find the person you want to talk to and to have a standard set of protocols that allow anyone to connect successfully and carry on a conversation.

To ensure universal interoperability for voice and video calls, Intel will provide Microsoft its implementation of the H.323, RSVP and RTP standards created for its ProShare(TM) family of video conferencing products. Microsoft will provide Intel its T.120 implementation, the ActiveX(TM) Technologies and the Microsoft(R) NetMeeting application.

Both companies are working with Internet white page vendors and service providers to make it easy to find other people to talk to on the Internet using the open User Location Service (ULS). Microsoft is providing Intel its implementation of ULS.

At the last worldwide meeting in Grenoble, France, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) approved the H.323 standard, which allows for cross-platform, interoperable voice, data, video, point-to-point and multipoint communication on data networks, such as the Internet or corporate intranets. The agreement announced today allows Intel and Microsoft to quickly deliver interoperable products supporting this standard.

Today's announcement marks the second step by Intel and Microsoft to ensure the PC is the world's premier communications device. In March, Intel and Microsoft, along with more than 120 hardware, software and service companies, endorsed and agreed to support products based on T.120 and H.323.

The agreement also calls for Intel and Microsoft to jointly promote these standards to the software development, PC OEM, independent hardware vendor, conferencing and Internet services communities. To ensure the widest possible interoperability, Intel and Microsoft will continue to sponsor and participate in industry interoperability events this summer.

"By aggressively supporting standards-based communications along with Intel and others in the industry, we are making great strides to meld the power of the PC with the global reach of the Internet," said John Ludwig, vice president of the Internet platform and tools division at Microsoft. "Microsoft NetMeeting is a bold demonstration of the new Internet communications paradigm."

"Today's announcement reflects solid progress and the expansion of a great relationship with Microsoft on Internet technologies, " said Frank Gill, executive vice president of Intel, general manager of Intel's Internet and Communications Group. "With Microsoft, and the more than 120 companies that are supporting our standards effort, we're going to make low-cost voice, data sharing and ultimately video conferencing available to all PC users on the net."

Availability

Microsoft plans to include the new technology in a future release of Microsoft NetMeeting, which is available in conjunction with Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 and will be included with future versions of the Windows(R) operating system. Further, the technology will be packaged as an ActiveX(TM) Control for easy integration of standards-based Internet communications by any application. Intel plans to include these capabilities in future products and will work to integrate this new implementation and other new multimedia communications capabilities into the base PC platform.

Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of personal computer, networking and communications products.

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. -0-

Note to Editors: Microsoft, NetMeeting, ActiveX and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. ProShare is a trademark of Intel Corporation. Other brands or products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. -0- For Online Product Information:

Intel Web site: http://www.intel.com

Intel PressRoom: http://www.intel.com/pressroom

Microsoft Internet Web site: http://www.microsoft.com

Microsoft NetMeeting Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/ie/conf

CONTACT: Intel Corporation

Ralph Bond, 503/264-6277

or

Microsoft Corporation/Waggener Edstrom

Dawn Leonetti, 503/245-0905