MICROSOFT SHIPS INTERNET INFORMATION SERVER FREE

Product Outperforms UNIX and Other Windows NT-Based Web Servers

REDMOND, WASH. - FEB. 12, 1996 - MicrosoftR Internet Information Server
(IIS), Microsoft Corp.'s entry into the World Wide Web server market
category, is now available free over the Internet.

Microsoft Internet Information Server, the first Web server integrated with
the Windows NT Server network operating system, performs more than four
times faster than the NetScape Netsite server for Windows NT. It allows
customers to deploy Web sites on the Internet and within corporate
networks, known as intranets. Its integration with the Microsoft
BackOffice family of products also helps enable development of a new
generation of Web applications and can make thousands of existing database
and messaging applications "Web-enabled" today.

IIS is available online at http://www.microsoft.com/infoserv today and will
ship as a standard component of the Windows NT Server Network Value Pack.

"Customers have asked for a high-performance Web solution that is simple
and provides a great development platform. And they want it as a core part
of the server operating system," said Jim Allchin, senior vice president
of the business systems division at Microsoft. "By integrating IIS into
Windows NT Server, we are giving them what they want. That's why we're
seeing tremendous customer and developer momentum."

Shipment of IIS is another major step in Microsoft's delivery on its
comprehensive Internet strategy, outlined in December 1995.

IIS PROVIDES THE MOST POWERFUL WEB SERVER AVAILABLE

National Software Testing Laboratories (NSTL) tests show that IIS
outperforms other Windows NT-based Web servers by at least 250 percent,
based on industry-standard benchmark tests. Tests based on Webstone 1.1
also show that IIS is four times as fast as higher-priced UNIXR Web
servers.

IIS is optimized for Windows NT Server, which provides reliability and
advanced fault tolerance, as well as built-in security. IIS also includes
encryption for secure communications (secure sockets layer, or SSL),
giving users the ability to protect private information.

Windows NT Server enables users to choose from thousands of PC and RISC
single-processor and multiprocessor servers (e.g., x86, Pentium, Pentium
Pro, Digital's Alpha AXP, Power PC and MIPSR).

IIS MAKES IT EASY TO CREATE AND MANAGE A WEB SITE

The IIS graphical setup can install and run all Internet services in less
than 10 minutes in most cases, compared with UNIX servers that can take
hours to install. The ease-of-use features turn LANs into corporate
intranets by allowing users to publish existing files immediately and
securely. The graphical Internet Service Manager included with IIS
centralizes administration from a single desktop for multiple servers and
allows secure administration over the Internet. In addition, IIS includes
the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser for the WindowsR 3.x, Windows 95
and Windows NT operating systems.

IIS ENABLES A NEW GENERATION OF WEB APPLICATIONS

More than 50 third-party developers have already announced plans to deliver
ISAPI-based applications. Today, 5 million developers for Windows can use
their existing experience, knowledge and tools to create the new
generation of Web applications. While fully supporting existing standards
such as CGI and Perl, IIS also includes the open Internet Server API
(ISAPI) extension to the Win32 API that is up to five times faster than
CGI-based applications. Both internal corporate developers and third
parties are using ISAPI to provide server extensions such as customer
communications, site management and business solutions such as accounting,
order entry and catalog databases.

In combination with Microsoft SQL Server, IIS lets customers build powerful
interactive database-driven Web sites, with access to business information
anywhere in the organization. The Internet Database Connector included
with IIS is based on open industry standards, providing integration with
Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access or other ODBC-compliant databases.
Through Microsoft Exchange Server, IIS will tie Web-based information into
corporatewide mail and messaging systems, providing seamless sharing of
information and documents.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

Microsoft Internet Information Server is now available to download from the
Internet at no charge (other than the cost of connect time, if any) at the
Microsoft Internet Information Server Web site,
http://www.microsoft.com/infoserv. IIS is also included in the Windows NT
Server Network Value Pack, along with Windows NT Server and 10
client-access licenses. (Note: IIS has an unlimited license; customers do
not need client access licenses to access IIS.) The Windows NT Server
Network Value Pack is available for approximately $999. Customers who
already use Windows NT Server can acquire IIS on disk for approximately
$99. Both of these products are scheduled to be available from resellers
in March.

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.

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on
Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft home page at
http://www.microsoft.com/corpinfo. To receive Microsoft press releases by
fax, please call (800) 859-5915 in the United States or (201) 333-0314
internationally.
 
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