-------- Forwarded message -------- Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.announce Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 14:49:59 GMT From: tsipple@vnet.IBM.COM Subject: OS/2 NEWS: New, secure version of WebExplorer
Submitted by: Timothy F. Sipples (tsipple@vnet.ibm.com) Source: Timothy F. Sipples (tsipple@vnet.ibm.com) Date received: 1995 September 26 Date posted: 1995 September 29 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ New, secure version of WebExplorer for OS/2 Warp
ATLANTA, Sept. 27, 1995--The latest additions to IBM's Internet Connection software family will enable companies to encrypt Internet transactions and better protect internal networks with firewall software as they explore new business opportunities on the Information Superhighway.
Today's announcements include:
* A new secure version of the Web Explorer for OS/2 Warp
* The IBM Internet Connection Secure Server for OS/2 Warp
* The Internet Connection Secure Server for AIX
* An enhanced version of the Internet Connection Secured Network Gateway
* an enhanced version of the Internet Connection for OS/2 Warp
* an enhanced version of the Internet Connection for Windows
"Businesses of all kinds are considering the immense opportunity the Internet offers but are reluctant to take the plunge until they feel they can do so in a planned, secure manner. The Internet Connection family provides our customers with that reassurance, freeing them to explore a whole new world of possibilities," said Lois Dimpfel, vice president, Networking Software Products, IBM Networking Software Division.
The Internet is evolving as a means for conducting electronic commerce, and the new IBM secure servers and OS/2 Warp client are superbly positioned to meet customer security needs. The IBM Internet Connection servers and client support both of the emerging security technologies -- Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (S-HTTP) and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) -- to provide customers with maximum flexibility.
New OS/2 Warp client and secure servers
The new version of the Internet Connection for OS/2 Warp, the first Internet client to be included at no charge in an operating system, adds security support to an Internet application suite that has won generous praise in its first year of availability. OS/2 Magazine recently chose the Internet Connection for OS/2 Warp as a winner in its editors' choice awards.
The Internet Connection family of client software was also enhanced last week. The Internet Connection for OS/2 Warp, provided at no charge as part of the Warp bonus pack, now includes table support, streaming graphics, an integrated news function and other enhancements through HyperText Markup Language (HTML) 3.0 extensions. These enhancements will also be available in the secure version being announced today.
The InternetConnection for Windows was enhanced with improved performance, additional graphic viewers, audio players and other features.
IBM's new web server software provides unmatched scalability for customers. The OS/2 Warp version can run on cost-effective desktop systems sold in retail outlets, while the AIX version runs on highly-scalable RISC System/6000 platforms.
Both the IBM Internet Connection Secure Server for OS/2 Warp and the Internet Connection Secure Server for AIX were designed to be quickly and easily configured using any industry-standard browser. The installation and configuration is menu-based and includes online help designed to assist an administrator with making the correct choice.
The new Internet Connection secure servers and clients allow businesses and their customers to conduct transactions over the 'Net knowing that the data is protected. For example, an auto parts supplier might create a secure web server containing its catalog, including high-quality images of the items, on the web along with the ability to place an order. A customer would use the Internet Connection secure client -- or an S-HTTP- or SSL-compliant client from another vendor -- to browse the online catalog, order a part and pay for it with an encrypted credit card number.
Enhanced secured network gateway
A new version of IBM's Secured Network Gateway, a software product generally known as an Internet "firewall," today joins the Internet Connection product family. Formerly part of the NetSP product family, the Secured Network Gateway operates on an AIX platform to protect a corporation's internal enterprise network resources from Internet intruders, while allowing legitimate traffic to flow through the firewall.
The Internet Connection Secured Network Gateway offers a number of advanced features, including: proxy server, SOCKS servers, filters and domain name service.
Among several features added to the new version is support for AIX version 4.13, in addition to AIX version 3.25. The new operating system support offers customers the option to run the Secured Network Gateway on PowerPC hardware.
Another key feature of the new version is data encryption. Data can safely flow between two firewalls across a public network. The firewall encrypts IP data packets, creating a private "IP tunnel" from one secure internal network to another.
The new secure IP tunnels could be used for a company with the Secured Network Gateway installed at its various sites to safely and confidently transmit sensitive financial data from a branch office over the Internet to corporate headquarters. Customers could also use the new feature to securely administer a firewall from a remote location.
Internet Connection directions
Just as the Internet itself continues to expand phenomenally, the Internet Connection family, now consisting of seven generally available products, will also grow. Current product plans call for additional web clients on a number of platforms, and web server software for OS/400, MVS and selected non-IBM systems.
"We don't intend to just keep pace with the market; we intend to be the pacesetter," said IBM's Dimpfel. "IBM has worldwide reach and strengths like no other company. The IBM Global Network, robust software products, IBM services and gateway software to link with existing business systems using DB2 and CICS--all this means customers don't have to deal with patching together solutions from a collection of vendors."
The Internet Connection product family is a component of IBM's imperative to provide people and organizations with network-centric computing, a new model that combines networking software, network services and computing devices to facilitate computing anywhere, anytime.
IBM, the world's largest software provider, creates, develops and manufactures the industry's most advanced information technologies, including networking systems, software, computing systems, storage devices and microelectronics.
Pricing and availability
The secure server software for OS/2 Warp is $2,999 for the first license with additional licenses available for $2,699 each. The AIX secure server software is $4,999 for the first license and $4,499 for an additional license. The Internet Connection Secured Network Gateway is priced at $9,999 for the first license, with additional licenses available for $8,999.
The new secure WebExplorer for OS/2 Warp is $35 per copy and pricing on the enhanced IBM Internet Connection for Windows has been reduced to $59.
Both secure servers and the secure Web Explorer for OS/2 Warp will be generally available in December of this year. The new version of the Secured Network Gateway will be available in October.
IBM, OS/2, AIX, CICS, DB2 and RISC System/6000 are trademarks of IBM.
Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corp.
-- Jeff Simmons jsimmons@goblin.punk.net