Microsoft today added clout to Macromedia's efforts to promote its Shockwave technology as a de facto standard for Web multimedia support by announcing an agreement to bundle Shockwave with both its Windows 95 operating system and its upcoming Internet Exporer 3.0 Web browser.
Under the agreement, the two companies will develop a Shockwave ActiveX control by summer, which will be available at no charge from both companies' Web sites. The control will also be the first to be bundled with the next version of Windows 95, Internet Explorer 3.0, the Windows 95 OEM kit, and the Microsoft Internet Starter Kit beginning this summer.
Macromedia also plans to support Microsoft's ActiveX component technology through its Backstage Designer Web authoring tool.
