-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher McMillan [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, May 28, 2001 7:22 AM
Subject: Windows XP and AOL 6.0 Together
Good Morning:
Microsoft, AOL ink Windows XP pact
By Peter Galli, eWEEK
May 25, 2001 7:36 AM ET
America Online Inc. and Microsoft Corp. have reached a tentative agreement
under which the AOL 6.0 client will be bundled into Windows XP, sources
close to both companies said late Thursday.
The agreement was due to be reviewed and signed by both parties this week,
the sources said. Both AOL spokesman Jim Whitney and Microsoft spokesman Jim
Cullinan declined to comment.
The sources said the agreement stipulated that AOL was currently required to
deliver AOL 6.0 for Windows XP, known as the Steppenwolf client, by
mid-July. As such, it was sending a team of developers and other staff to
the Redmond campus for several weeks to work on integration issues around
the bundling, followed by another visit to test application compatibility.
This was necessary to ensure that Steppenwolf met Microsoft's internal
deadlines and did not delay the official global launch of Windows XP on
October 25.
The five-year contract between the two companies that guaranteed AOL
prominent placing on Microsoft's Windows operating system in exchange for
exclusive support for Internet Explorer on AOL's online service expired in
January.
AOL was widely expected not to renew the deal, particularly given its
acquisition of a competing browser through its purchase of Netscape
Communications in 1999. Microsoft and AOL have also repeatedly clashed in
their rivalry over instant messaging.
News of the latest agreement first surfaced on the BetaNews.com Web site.
One of the issues currently facing AOL is the fact that the English language
bundling of its client on XP requires about 84 MB, with another 42 MB if the
Compuserve online service is added. Microsoft has apparently informed AOL
that there is only 70 MB left on the XP CD.
As such, AOL is considering an improved single installer that would detect
and install the required country resources at install time, allowing a
single installer for multiple countries. It is also looking at what could be
removed from the bundled client to reduce its size.
AOL is also working on getting Steppenwolf compliant with the XP Logo
specifications, a source said, adding that six issues were currently being
addressed, including the client installation directory and the shared
components installation directory.
But Steppenwolf will apparently not include Komodo, AOL's new software
currently in alpha testing and which is designed to allow the embedding of
third-party Windows-based browsers into the AOL consumer browser, the
sources said.
AOL and Microsoft are also discussing the possible integration of the
Windows Media Player, but any agreement will have to comply with AOL's
current exclusivity agreement with RealNetworks around its RealPlayer, which
ends in mid-July,
While AOL has not ruled out making the Windows Media Player its exclusive
player, it is concerned about supporting it on other platforms and in older
versions of Windows that have not shipped with a compatible player, the
sources said.
Thanks!!
Sincerely,
Christopher McMillan
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]
203 934 5432 Telephone
708 585 6130 Fax
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