AOL to release new version of Netscape

America Online said Thursday that it plans to release a new version of its Netscape Web browser this summer, though the effort does not appear to signal a return to major browser development work for the company.

An AOL representative said that the new software will be based on Mozilla 1.7 code developed by Netscape's open-source offshoot. She described it as a relatively minor upgrade that will include a few security patches, but leave the interface mostly unchanged. "This is not a huge step forward," she said.

Netscape 7.2 comes amid speculation that AOL had all but ceased working on the browser following layoffs last year affecting some 500 developers in California, including most of the team that had been working on Netscape. AOL shifted some programming jobs to other offices within the company, including a new research center in Bangalore, India.

The layoffs followed the resolution of an antitrust suit brought by Netscape parent Time Warner against Microsoft, netting the media giant $750 million and a seven-year contract to use Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser in its AOL service, among other things.

AOL bought Netscape in a deal worth about $9 billion when it closed in March 1999. But the Internet service provider struggled to integrate the unit, and ultimately failed to shore up its business against the encroachments of Microsoft. Internet Explorer is currently used by more than 90 percent of Web surfers, according to site visitor statistics published by Google.

Netscape's most recent upgrade came last July, adding support for domain names written in non-English languages and a spam filter built on Bayesian analysis of incoming mail.

[smkatz]

what about updating AIM?

If you are going to release an update--please do it right and update all the componets.

Otherwise, just let Mozilla handle the branding.

I am referring all my customers to AOL, who after all is the only national ISP with IMAP filtering with hand-holding (AOL) or without (Netscape). You win in both arenas.

Keep up the great work you've done for the Internet (Instant Messaging, Browsing, and online services.. quite a legacy.) And you guys are still doing it.

--Sam

[wanderson]

Yawn

Most technology experts with whom I have communicated over the past five years do not feel that AOL was a technology company, and therefore
did not appreciate the value of "Mozilla" in
licensing IE for AOL services in 2003.

his announcement is of little importance to anyone.

[tjesterb]

What happens to Mozilla?

As a Mozilla user I have to wonder what will happen to them now? My understanding is that they were funded by selling their development to Netscape, which then integrated any features they liked into new Netscape releases. Will the Mozilla project be able to remain open source, or will they have to start charging fees, like Opera and others?

[pkennedy]

Nutscape 'rulz'...

I'm a Nutscrape 7.1 die hard user ..call me a dinosaur... have been since their beginning pre-AOL and 2.0... Nutscrape has a better 'bookmark' management tool... also has a built-in popup blocker...

I'll stick with Nutscrape to the very end... I don't do web development.. leave that to the IE users... can't understand why IE is so popular...other than all the PC makers allow it to be embedded in the MS XP system... so much for lawsuits.. what a farce...

maybe Andressen and Barksdale will buy it back on the cheap if AOL decides to 'get rid of it'.... c'mon Mark and Jim.. wake up and take back your 'bay-bee'.. we need you back on track where you belong...

[Dawn in WY]

Netscape Mail

I have been using Netscape since 1994 and I really like Netscape Mail. I hope I will not be forced to switch to IE and Outlook.