HP Offers Breakthrough Web Features with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0; HP Pavilion Multimedia PC Owners Get Easy-to-use Web-integration Features with Personalized Information Delivered Right to Their Desktops

Business Wire, Sept 15, 1997

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 15, 1997-- Hewlett-Packard Company today announced it will offer Microsoft(R) Internet Explorer 4.0, the latest version of Microsoft's Internet client, for HP Pavilion multimedia PCs. HP Pavilion multimedia PCs with Internet Explorer 4.0 give consumers advanced browser technology for a complete, easy-to-use, integrated Internet solution.

HP will develop HP At Home "active-channel content" to which the community of HP owners can subscribe for free (connect-time charges may apply). HP Pavilion multimedia PC owners automatically will receive regular updates on tutorials, creative multimedia projects, new products and much more at their home PC, if they choose. For these subscribers, the HP At Home channel technology will "push" valuable content from the popular HP At Home Web site and complement it too.

HP also will use the Internet Explorer 4.0 Active Desktop to offer a special tutorial that educates HP Pavilion owners on ways to take advantage of Internet Explorer 4.0.

"We are committed to integrating the latest Internet technologies, such as Internet Explorer 4.0, in HP Pavilion multimedia PCs, providing our customers with features to make their online experience easier, richer and more exciting," said Richard Walker, worldwide marketing manager for HP's Home Products Division. "We're thrilled with the active-channel technology, which will enable us to enhance our relationship with HP Pavilion owners."

HP also will integrate Internet Explorer 4.0 into HP PCs for its corporate and small-business customers. Corporate customers will benefit from Internet Explorer 4.0's optimized solution for the corporate Internet, intranet and extranet environments with a browser that is truly interactive and offers a broad set of communications and collaboration tools. HP PC owners also will benefit from all of the innovative browser technologies Internet Explorer 4.0 provides, including fast Java(TM) implementation; safety features; standards support; and a single, seamless user interface.

"We're pleased HP is making innovative use of the new Internet Explorer 4.0 technologies," said Brad Chase, vice president in the application and Internet client group at Microsoft Corp. "With Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0, HP can bring its HP Pavilion multimedia PC owners a more personalized online experience and an enhanced relationship with HP."

Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 is a premier Internet client that brings users "the Web the way you want it." By combining an advanced Internet browser, complete communication and collaboration, innovative active-channel content and true Web integration, Internet Explorer 4.0 provides users an unparalleled Web experience.

Internet Explorer 4.0 also ensures users can view the widest array of Internet content by offering support for the broadest range of Internet standards, including HTML 4.0, Dynamic HTML, Java and ActiveX. In conjunction with the Internet Explorer Administration Kit, Internet Explorer 4.0 can be fully customized, controlled and managed by corporate administrators to provide users with an optimized solution for a corporate Internet, intranet and extranet environments.

AVAILABILITY

HP will offer a customized version of Internet Explorer 4.0 that will help owners install, use and get the most out of their HP Pavilion multimedia PCs. The HP-enhanced version will be made available via the Web at (www.hp.com). Internet Explorer 4.0 will be pre-installed on HP Pavilion multimedia PCs, expected to be available early next year.

ABOUT HP

HP is the official information-technology hardware and maintenance supplier to the 1998 World Cup soccer tournament.

Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global provider of computing, Internet and intranet solutions, services, communications products and measurement solutions, all of which are recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 120,500 employees and had revenue of $38.4 billion in its 1996 fiscal year.

Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com . -0-

Microsoft is a U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corp.

Java is a U.S. trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.

CONTACT: Hewlett-Packard

Larry Sennett, 408/553-2916

larry_sennett@hp.com

or

Alexander Communications for HP

Andrea Routh, 415/923-1660

arouth@alexander-pr.com