FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Jody Kramer
(650) 937-3989
kramer@netscape.com
NETSCAPE NETCENTER 2.0 PORTAL SITE LIVE TODAY FOR MILLIONS OF INTERNET USERS
Expanded Site Provides Essential Consumer Portal Services, Receives
Excellent User Feedback In Beta Testing
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (June 30, 1998) -- Netscape Communications
Corporation (NASDAQ:NSCP) today announced the availability of its
redesigned and expanded Netscape Netcenter portal site. "Netscape Netcenter
2.0" will include seventeen content channels, a set of leading-edge
services including new Netscape-branded Search, SmartUpdate, Software
Download, WebMail (scheduled for release in beta later this week) and
Member Directory. Netcenter 2.0 also includes an innovative, new integrated
navigation scheme that brings together Netcenter content and services to
make the site very easy to use.
Also scheduled for roll-out soon for Netscape Netcenter and Netscape
Communicator client software are Netscape Smart Browsing, a new way for
users to find information on the Net quickly and easily, and My Netscape, a
service for easily creating personal start pages.
Live today at http://home.netscape.com, users can find Automotive,
Business, Computers & Internet, Classifieds, Education, Entertainment,
Games, Health, Kids & Family, Lifestyles, Netscape, News, Personal Finance,
Real Estate, Shopping, Sports and Travel. Some of the channels are in
preliminary stages and will be built out further over the coming weeks. The
Local channel is expected to be available later this week. Each of these
channels has multiple subcategories, directing users to a wealth of content
and services so they can get the information and perform the online
activities they need.
Netscape Netcenter serves as a key place for users to come to find the
information they need quickly and easily. Searching and looking for
specific information heads up the list of what Netscape users are doing
online and Netcenter will offer a variety of services that meet this need
including Netscape-branded Search, Web Directory and the soon to be
released Smart Browsing service. In addition, Netscape will be responsible
for the programming and advertising sales for "What's New and What's Cool"
pages, which highlight the freshest new Web sites and the most
thought-provoking content on the Net. The new home page also features
horoscopes, weather and news headlines from ABCNEWS.com.
"As part of our internal "Project 60" campaign, we have transformed
Netscape Netcenter into a major Internet portal," said Mike Homer,
executive vice president and general manager of Netscape's Netcenter
division. "Live today are the essential consumer services such as a broad
set of content channels, Netscape branded search and the beta of Netscape
WebMail by USA.NET. Soon we will add differentiated services such as My
Netscape and Smart Browsing that take advantage of Netscape's browser
software. These new services are just the beginning: Netscape plans to
continue to grow Netcenter into the leading online destination for millions
of Internet users."
Momentum Continues To Grow As Site Expands
The new site has been up as a beta test version for the past few weeks, and
users have offered very positive responses through a feedback button on the
site. According to IPRO, the Netscape Netcenter portal site now receives
more than 8.5 million unique visits each day. In addition, with the growth
of Netcenter, the Web site data centers and network facilities have grown
by more than 20 percent in the last quarter.
Already one of the most highly-trafficked sites on the Internet, Netscape
has added an easy way for its installed base of more than 70 million client
software users to make Netscape Netcenter their default page by "clicking'
on a special link on the new home page. Users who make Netcenter their
default home page can get the "best of the Web" on their desktop every
morning.
Netscape Communications Corporation is a leading provider of open software
and services for linking people and information over enterprise networks
and the Internet. The company offers a full line of clients, servers,
development tools, commercial applications and professional services to
create a complete platform for next-generation, online applications. Traded
on NASDAQ under the symbol NSCP, Netscape Communications Corporation is
based in Mountain View, California.
Additional information on Netscape Communications Corporation is available
on the Internet at http://home.netscape.com, by sending email to
info@netscape.com or by calling 650/937-2555 (corporations) or 650/937-
3777 (individuals).
