The new battleground is Java. Sun controls the name and they control the definition of the core Java libraries. But they don't have any control over additional class libraries that other companies might happen to make available to developers of Java applications and applets. Contrary to many people's expectations, Microsoft is now marketing Java heavily, urging their customers to use it. The advantages, say Microsoft, are cross-platform execution, due to Java's platform independence, and automatic integration with Microsoft's environment.
Extreme caution is advised, however.
Microsoft has a history of creating and controlling standards for its own benefit, generally to the detriment of its competitors and even customers. This looks, smells, and sounds like a lock-in strategy. Well, we like Netscape's strategy a lot better than Microsoft's, but don't believe that it is benign with regard to lock-in. Some of the technologies found in Netscape ONE, such as the client plug-in API, are supported by multiple vendors. IFC will ultimately provide access to the full range of Netscape services for Java-developed applications via the IFC APIs.