UniBrows runs IE6 Apps in Internet Explorer 8-InformationWeek

On Tuesday announced the launch of the security company Browsium UniBrows, lightweight browser add-on that allows existing Internet Explorer 6 to operate, "as is" in IE8, operating systems, Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. UniBrows is transparent to end users. If you require IE6 simply loads in IE8.

Backstage manager of the IT administrator to specify configuration UniBrows when should load the plugin IE6, on the basis of individual applications. Also, security restrictions and allow older ActiveX and Java. This security setting are distributed to clients by using UniBrows Group Policy objects in Active Directory.

Who still uses IE6? According to Net Applications, from February 2011, IE6 still amounted to 11% of all browsers, IE8 (35%) and Firefox (18%), but first on IE7 (8%) and chromium (8%). Of course, IE6 usage may not be a choice. "What is clamoring for people running IE6, are clamoring for a way out of it, and stuck to it," said Gary Schare, President and COO Browsium in an interview.

Indeed, IE6 is out of date, unsupported, is a security risk and requires Windows XP. It not only prevents the organization from the upgrade to Windows 7-Windows XP still commands, twice the market share – but also from the installation of a newer version of IE, or by using programs such as Microsoft SharePoint 2010.

Many organizations, however, still rely on numerous client applications in a modern browser. In the meantime, others, bought software from PeopleSoft, SAP, Siebel, Hyperion and niche, vertical industry players, which is no longer supported.

"IE6, browser, which had a 95% market share in one minute, so, all built on him, and he had plenty of social interface. It was revolutionary for its day, "said Schare, who was the project manager for the IE mid IE6 through IE8. He said that while UniBrows beta users welcome from all sectors, there has been a disproportionate amount of the interest of the banking, pharmaceutical and healthcare organizations, because they tend to use a relatively large number of client applications.

It is interesting that Browsium isn't pitching UniBrows as IE6 salve, but also as a "Web application continuity tool, able to stop or resume the IE8, IE7 or IE6 at his last known working state. "A new version of Flash or Java usually requires very fragile Web applications," said Schare. "We'll keep the State of your Web applications platform to a known state, it should be them."

As a result of Microsoft ' with the Monday release of IE9, said to be released version is IE9-comptible UniBrows, in a few weeks, after a further compatibility testing.

Price-Wise for organizations with 5 000 to 50 000 PCs., UniBrows costs $ 5,000 per year, plus $ 5 per seat.

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