On Wednesday, October 18, 2006, Microsoft Corp. released the Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP, the latest version of the world’s most popular Internet browser. The new version promises to provide a greater level of security and makes everyday task easier.

“We listened carefully to our customers and are delivering a safer browser that makes the tasks they do every day much easier,” said Dean Hachamovitch, general manager of the Internet Explorer team at Microsoft.

Internet Explorer continues to be the most widely used Internet browser but the long gaps between updates, enabled the emergence of a formidable competitor in the form of Mozilla.
According to OneStat.com, Internet Explorer registered an 86 per cent global share in October, Mozilla Firefox 11.5 per cent and both Apple Computer Inc.'s Safari and Norway's Opera Software (OPERA.OL), less than 2 per cent.
"It's exciting to see Microsoft re-enter the browser space after leaving for five years," said Christopher Beard, vice president of products for Mozilla. "It's great to see that IE is adopting the features that we popularized."
Microsoft said, it is already at work for the next version of Internet Explorer to make sure that there are no major gaps between updates.

"Should we have done more, sooner, earlier? It's rare to not say that in hindsight," said Dean Hachamovitch, general manager of the Internet Explorer team at Microsoft.


Features of the latest version

Safer and Easier

Responding to the regular security threats, Internet Explorer 7 team provides advanced safeguards against malicious software and virus attacks.

“Making the consumer experience more secure is paramount to maintaining consumer confidence online,” said Patrick Gauthier, senior vice president at Visa International. “Microsoft’s security improvements in Internet Explorer 7.0 will certainly further this endeavor.”


“As the industry leader in Web site authentication, VeriSign believes that Microsoft’s new Internet Explorer 7 browser will help increase user confidence and help make consumers more secure when using the Internet,” said Tim Callan, product marketing director at VeriSign Inc. “VeriSign has always been on the leading front of offering the most current technologies to help secure consumers online, which is a concept that Microsoft brings to life with Internet Explorer 7. We encourage users to move to the new browser.”

Internet Explorer 7 possesses a new look with enhanced capabilities that makes everyday tasks such as browsing, searching and printing – easier and faster. Microsoft also introduces tabs, enabling users to view multiple sites in a single browser and shifting easily from one site to another. In Internet Explorer 7, Microsoft extended the tab functionality with a new feature “Quick Tabs”, which provides an “at a glance” snapshot of all open tabs on a single screen, enabling easier and faster site selection and navigation.

Increased Compatibility and manageability

Internet Explorer 7 does not only emphasizes the end-user advancements but also aims at developers and business managers. Microsoft Corp. engineered Internet Explorer 7 for compatibility with existing websites by adhering to some of the most important standards for Web site development.

Availability

Microsoft Internet Explorer is available for download at:

http://www.microsoft.com/ie