Internet Explorer 8 RTW March 20, 2009

Even as it is getting closer and close to releasing Internet Explorer 8 to web, Microsoft continues to be mum on the availability deadline. Still, this doesn’t seem to be valid for Microsoft Taiwan. According to the software giant’s representatives from the country, Internet Explorer 8 is geared up to deliver a new browsing experience to users on March 20, 2009. Microsoft has yet to confirm the official RTW date of IE8, but reports are pointing to next week for the first bits of the gold version of Internet Explorer 8 to be made available for download.

The Redmond giant has already unveiled IE in Taiwan, according to Taipei Times, and even presented its partners for the localized version of the browser including FunP.com, UrMap, I’m TV, Pixnet , Ruten.com and 1111 Job Bank. In Taiwan Microsoft plans to use IE8 to fight off the dominance of Yahoo-Kimo on the local search engine market. “The entire premise of our IE8 is to create user stickiness, so that Internet users don’t need to wander around the Web in search of their favorite sites because Microsoft has already thought ahead and consolidated the sites for them,” Microsoft Taiwan general manager Davis Tsai revealed.

“One of the many great features of IE8 is ‘accelerators,’ which give users instant access to local Web sites that [feature] maps, Web searches, translation, e-mail and blogging. Our local partnerships with these companies in essence creates a one-stop shop where users can access all this information on our site,” added Juno Su, Microsoft platform marketing manager.

Microsoft Taiwan representatives also confirmed that Internet Explorer 8 RTW was just eight days away. This would put the launch of IE8 on the last day of MIX09, Microsoft’s web-centric annual conference, where IE General Manager Dean Hachamovitch is scheduled to keynote.

“Mix09 is just around the corner, approaching quickly. I’m really excited to get back to Vegas and back to the conference. The Internet Explorer sessions are now live on the MIX website and there’s lots of great content there. If you aren’t already registered, there is still time. It’s a great opportunity to find out what’s going on with Internet Explorer. Many people from the engineering team will be at the conference both giving talks and helping out at the IE compatibility lab,” revealed Pete LePage, product manager of Internet Explorer Developer Division last week.


Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) Release Candidate 1 (RC1) is available for download here.