Netscape releases final version of new browser

Netscape hopes its new version 6 browser will help it regain some of its once dominant market share

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Netscape Communications, the maker of the Web-browsing software at the core of the U.S. government's antitrust case against Microsoft Corp., made its long-awaited final version of its Netscape 6 browser available to consumers Tuesday.

Netscape once held nearly 90 percent of the browser market with its program that was used by millions as their primary window to the Internet. However, the unit of America Online Inc. has faced an uphill battle from Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which is shipped in every Windows PC and holds nearly 70 percent of the market.

AOL has an existing deal with Microsoft that requires it to make Internet Explorer the embedded Web software inside its AOL service until Microsoft's browser is built into Windows.

The newest version of the Netscape browser, which can run across a variety of platforms from personal computers to new consumer devices, has been rewritten completely. It is powered by Gecko technology and was developed through an open source project known as Mozilla that took feedback from a volunteer network of independent Internet programmers.

Netscape Senior Vice President and General Manager Jim Martin said in a phone interview the latest version will help Netscape regain some of its lost market share. The latest version of the browser has been downloaded about 3.5 million times since its first beta version was released in April.

"The fastest growing is the consumer space and small business areas and I think that's where Netscape has a real strength. Our focus is going to be on small and medium-sized businesses and the Web-savvy consumer market. I do think (Netscape 6) is going to give us a tremendous boost," Martin said.

Netscape will have to get third-party and original equipment manufacturer support, make sure its marketing and ad messages are on the mark and work with Internet appliance makers to use Netscape's Gecko technology.

The Gecko technology is being used as a major part of the "AOL Anywhere" strategy. For example, the Internet appliance unveiled by Gateway Inc. and AOL last week uses the Gecko technology.

"I think in the short-term the personal computer is where it's at, but we know over the course of next couple years we will see continued migration to anywhere access environment," Martin said.

In contrast to Internet Explorer, Netscape supports Linux and will run on the operating system, which is an alternative to Microsoft.

Netscape 6 will let users combine browsing, e-mail and instant messaging in an integrated environment so that it is not necessary to load separate applications for each communication task.

"One of the first and most obvious (changes) we have added to the final version is more personalization and customization of the browser itself with themes," Martin said.

The new browser contains more than 50 different themes so that users can personalize their browser with corporate colors and the like. It also offers a password management feature that allows users to store all passwords for all the sites they visit on regular basis.

Users will also be able to check multiple e-mail accounts from the browser's new Task Bar called "My Sidebar."

Netscape also has reduced the size of the browser software to make it faster to download and has set up the installer to allow users to choose only those components they want.

The latest version of the browser will also be launched Tuesday in Britain, France, Germany and Japan for the first time, providing international users with a browser and online environment tailored to their local region.

Netscape is also expected to strike deals with Primedia Inc. to feature print advertising across its multiple publications.

It is also expected to launch major marketing initiatives with Internet service providers, computer manufacturers and Web companies to distribute Netscape 6 browser software.

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