MS, PointCast tie up for IE 4.0

Microsoft announced yesterday a key content tie-up with PointCast to deliver live newsfeeds via the Internet Explorer (IE) 4.0 Active Desktop. The deal turns the screw tighter on Netscape as IE will also become the internal browser for a forthcoming version of PointCast, a service which claims about 40 million hits per day.

IE 4.0 will include the PointCast Network broadcast news service and MSNBC, the joint-owned Microsoft and NBC TV/online news network. Under the terms of the agreement, PointCast will in turn make IE its browser of choice. Extending the agreement further, PointCast has also said it will use the Active Platform for its PointCast Network 97 from the second quarter of 1997.

"With the PointCast Network 97, Microsoft Internet Explorer will function as its internal browser," said Chris Hassett, president and CEO of PointCast. "This will allow viewers to seamlessly explore the Internet from within PointCast Network 97 - whether it's to see stories related to news broadcasts or to click on an advertisement."