Following the availability of Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 starting on August 27, 2008, Microsoft released new documentation for the browser. In this context, the Redmond giant has made available for download a Technology Overview of IE8 Beta 2 aimed at IT professionals and enterprise environments. Looking beyond the Beta 2 build released at the end of the past month, Internet Explorer 8 is advertised as a "business-ready" browser. Microsoft even goes as far as to say that IE8 is "ready for deployment in the enterprise." Because IE is not only the most used browser in the world, but also the prevalent choice for corporate environments, the software company aims to deliver a feeling of continuity for its business customers.

 

"Internet Explorer 8 is the business-ready browser with Enterprise-class deployment, management, compatibility and security as a standard. It is designed to be compatible with applications written for Internet Explorer 7 and has a complete range of deployment tools including a deployment guide, Internet Explorer Administration Kit for customization, Slipstream, Systems Center Configuration Manager and Windows Server Update Services. More than 1,300 group policies are included in Internet Explorer 8 that allow IT professionals to customize Internet Explorer 8 to meet the needs of their enterprise," revealed Microsoft Evangelist Keith Combs.

 

The fact of the matter is that the corporate environment is traditionally sluggish when it comes down to migrating to the latest Windows version available, but also in regard to adopting new IE releases. It took IE7 over a year to grow its market share at the same level as IE6, and this scenario is illustrative of how the IE install base will react to IE8. Of course that because of the support life cycle of IE, synchronized with that of Windows client and server operating systems, business customers are among the last to make the jump to new Internet Explorer versions, and IE8 is bound not to make an exception to this rule, despite the company's best efforts to the contrary.

 

The Redmond giant is betting big on IE8's main attributes in order to make it appealing to current users of IE6 and IE7. The "enterprise ready" label that Microsoft has stuck on IE8 is connected with the new security enhancements, but also the potential improvements to IT productivity, the new business scenarios which it makes possible and the undeniable evolution in reliability. With the "Windows Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2: Technology Overview for Enterprise and IT Pros" whitepaper Microsoft is doing nothing more than to deliver an insight on the benefits associated with upgrading to IE8.

 

Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) Beta 2 is available for download here.