Skip the navigation
)

Microsoft offers free tech support with Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2

It has released IE7 Beta 2 for free public download

By Sandra Gittlen
April 25, 2006 12:00 PM ET

Computerworld - Microsoft has released for free public download beta 2 of Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP. This latest version of Microsoft's next browser has few visible changes from the Beta 2 preview edition posted on March 20.

In fact, what's most different in this release isn't at all evident in the program. Microsoft is changing IE7's support options and will offer free telephone tech support for it beginning with Beta 2. The toll-free support number is (866) 876-4926.

"The goal is to get people running this version because it adds so many important security features," Gary Schare, Microsoft's director of strategic product management for Internet Explorer, said via e-mail. "We’re hoping that free support convinces a few more people to give it a try. If something doesn’t work right, we’d like to be able to help them work through the issue."

Support for Internet Explorer 6 is only available to Microsoft customers who have signed up for a Software Assurance (volume) license. It costs $35 per incident during business hours, whether you use e-mail, online chat, or telephone. The per-incident charge for what Microsoft terms "business-critical after-hours support" is $490. So Microsoft's plan to offer toll-free support for IE7 is a departure.

Free Browser Add-Ons

Microsoft is also taking a page out of Mozilla's book by creating an Add-Ons for Internet Explorer site. Although this site wasn't yet live when I tested an advance copy of IE7 Beta 2, a Microsoft spokesperson said there would be "hundreds of free add-ons," apparently similar to extensions for the Firefox and Mozilla browsers.

The IE add-ons site appears to be a reworking of the Windows Marketplace site, which has long been linked to from the Tools menu. The programs available on the new site don't appear to be any different from the ones on the old site, and many of Microsoft's add-ons -- which are all supplied by third-party software companies -- aren't free. Many are also more sophisticated or have more ambitious goals than Mozilla's browser extensions.

Some of the security enhancements implemented in IE7 include ActiveX opt-in, a phishing filter, a fix-my-security-settings alert system, cross-domain script barriers and a delete browsing history tool (see "IE 7 beta has security improvements under the hood"). Other new features include tabbed browsing, a revised favorites center, page zoom, support for RSS feeds, shrink-to-fit printing and an Internet search field built into the main tool bar area.

Beginning with Beta 2, Internet Explorer supports Windows XP 64-bit Edition, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2003 for Itanium systems. IE7 beta 2 requires Service Pack 2 on Windows XP PCs. Microsoft expects the final release of the new browser to be available during the second half of 2006. The Windows Vista version of IE7 will be similar, but it adds protected-mode browsing (in which the browser is isolated from the user account) and handful of additional features.



What is Tech Briefcase?
TechBriefcase is a new, free service where IT Professionals can Search, Store and Share IT white papers and content like this. Learn more
Bookmark content
Speed up your research efforts with content across the web.
Search and Store
Find the white papers you need. Create folders for any topic.
View Anywhere
Open your briefcase on your iPhone, tablet or desktop. Share with colleagues.
Don't have an account yet?
Additional Resources
Security KnowledgeVault
WHITE PAPER
Security is not an option. This KnowledgeVault Series offers professional advice how to be proactive in the fight against cybercrimes and multi-layered security threats; how to adopt a holistic approach to protecting and managing data; and how to hire a qualified security assessor. Make security your Number 1 priority.

Read now.

Cut Communications Costs Once and for All
WHITE PAPER
New IP-based communications systems are being deployed by small and midsized businesses at a rapid rate. Learn how these organizations are enabling faster responsiveness, creating better customer experiences, speeding office or mobile interactions, and dramatically reducing existing communications costs.

Read now.

Desktop Apps White Papers
Practice Management: Double Billing Rate and Improve Patient Services
Would you like to double your billing rate and achieve faster payment for services?

Download this customer success story to see how One Health...
Mission Critical Data Explosion and Customer Case Study
Would you like to double your tier 1 storage capacity while simultaneously reducing your storage footprint?

Download this customer success story to see how...
Protecting Against Database Attacks and Insider Threats: Top 5 Scenarios
Read this new eBook to learn the top five scenarios and essential best practices for preventing database attacks and insider threats.
Database Activity Monitoring Is Evolving
Read the analyst report and learn how you can leverage the core capabilities of a DAP solution for better database security.
Establishing a Strategy for Database Security is No Longer Optional
The options for securing increasingly valuable databases are very broad and deep, and can be confusing. This research provides an overview of three...
All Desktop Apps White Papers
Desktop Apps Webcasts
Distributed Database Security with Real-time Monitoring
View this demo and learn how IBM InfoSphere Guardium database activity monitoring can help protect your sensitive data in distributed DBMS environments with...
InfoSphere Warehouse Packs Demo
These flash modules make warehousing more tangible and relevant to business users through detailed explanations of the InfoSphere Warehouse Packs.
Delivery Management -- Extending Lifecycle Management
Date: Wednesday, June 20, 2012, 1:00 PM EDT

Siloed organizations continue doing the wrong things and doing things wrong, leading to increased costs,...
Leverage automation today to reduce IT complexity
Date: Tuesday, June 5, 2012, 2:00 PM EDT

Whether your B2B complexity is caused by multiple technologies due to M&A, business or application specific...
Redefine Expectations in the Data Center
Need to do more with less? Watch this video to learn how HP ProLiant Gen8 servers can help your business deploy servers three...
All Desktop Apps Webcasts
Newsletter Sign-Up

Receive the latest news test, reviews and trends on your favorite technology topics

Choose a newsletter
  1. View all newsletters | Privacy Policy
IT Jobs