New feature development for the browser was discontinued in 2016 in favor of new browser Microsoft Edge. Later versions were available as free downloads, or in- service packs, and included in the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) service releases of Windows 95 and later versions of Windows. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year. Internet Explorer (formerly Microsoft Internet Explorer and Windows Internet Explorer, commonly abbreviated IE or MSIE) is a discontinued series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included in the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995.