The digital version was developed by Bitstream around
1986, and licensed to Microsoft through Agfa Monotype and
Glyph Systems for inclusion with Windows 3.1. Microsoft updated the
original TrueType fonts to the OpenType format in 2003 for release
with Windows XP and later versions of Windows. This resulted in
improved marks positioning, and introduced kerning for improved
word layouts. The Arabic glyphs from Simplified Arabic
were added to Arial and Times New Roman
and released with Windows 98. Microsoft continued to update and
improve Simplified Arabic over the years, but most of
these improvements were not carried over to Arial and
Times New Roman. [Sakkal] More…
The digital version was developed by Bitstream around 1986, and licensed to Microsoft through Agfa Monotype and Glyph Systems for inclusion with Windows 3.1. Microsoft updated the original TrueType fonts to the OpenType format in 2003 for release with Windows XP and later versions of Windows. This resulted in improved marks positioning, and introduced kerning for improved word layouts. The Arabic glyphs from Simplified Arabic were added to Arial and Times New Roman and released with Windows 98. Microsoft continued to update and improve Simplified Arabic over the years, but most of these improvements were not carried over to Arial and Times New Roman. [Sakkal] Despite the small differences and for practical reasons, this entry is used both for Simplified Arabic and the Arabic parts of Arial and Times New Roman.
