Compare: Verdana and Helvetica
http://www.graphic-design.com/Type/verdana/

Showker, Fred
Design, Typography and Graphics
2001

Abstract:

The Design Center and DT&G have taken pride over the years in remaining as non-platform specific as possible, and provide content that is accessible to everyone without a lot of fancy configuration and bother. With the advent of Verdana however things will change a bit. In the early '90s we switched to Frutiger as our official replacement for Helvetica. We have used it for all the anchor ('house') typography in The Design Center as well as The User Group Network. Verdana has tested out to be a very close knock-off of Frutiger so we're going to experiment with it a bit here in the web site.