Claris buys into Web authoring
Claris bought its way into the Web-authoring business with a new tool.
Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
The product, code-named Loma Prieta, is now scheduled to be released late this summer for Windows 95, Windows NT, and Macintosh as Claris Home Page. Home Page will be available as a free beta next month from the Claris Web site.
Home Page 1.0 is designed to enable users with no previous knowledge of HTML to design Web pages, but the tool supports the more sophisticated Web design features such as tables and multiple frames per page, Java and JavaScript, and a set of class libraries that allow drag-and-drop editing. Version 1.0 will not support Microsoft's ActiveX controls, but Claris vice president of product management Jon Perr said ActiveX support will likely be included in the next version.
Claris is positioning Home Page as the linchpin for its overall Internet strategy, but the company plans to add Internet access and connectivity across its product line, including the popular database FileMaker Pro and the application suite ClarisWorks.
Claris will face stiff competition in the Web-authoring tool market from Adobe Systems' PageMill and SiteMill, Microsoft's FrontPage, SoftQuad's HotMetal Pro, and Netscape Communications' Navigator Gold. Although Claris has not yet set a price for Home Page, the company is likely to target the beginner Web designer or home user and to compete with its established rivals on price.
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