As part of its plan to sell Java-based versions of its software business products, Corel Corp, Ontario, Canada, is trying to woo Internet terminal vendors and service providers to offer its codenamed Corel Office JV. Corel began talking to vendors earlier this year, but said serious interest only came after it demonstrated its new versions at the JavaOne conference last week (CI No 2924). Corel says it’s in the first stage of talks with all the major network computer manufacturers and ISPs the size of America Online and CompuServe. The company is entrenched in the Java camp and says it has no plans to support Microsoft’s ActiveX, ActiveX is not as optimal for the Web as Microsoft would like to think. Java has the advantage in cross platform technology. Corel’s vision for its Java-enabled products – which can be downloaded as Java applets from the Internet or Intranets as needed – involves a three-pronged pricing model. First, ISPs could license the software from Corel and charge users a flat fee or by usage. Second, Internet terminal manufacturers could license from Corel and bundle smart cards encoded with access privileges for users to download the software. Third, companies could pay site license fees similar to current client-server arrangements so that employees could download the software from Intranets. Corel says the new channels require it to expand its business model, but has not determined whether a new division will emerge. Corel expects its Internet capability to attract users away from the Microsoft Office camp when the Java products ship in early 1997. Corel also announced it will launch a Macintosh version of its Corel Draw graphics product, priced slightly lower than its Windows version to compete with Aldus Freehand and Adobe Illustrator.
