some excerpts from WSJ on 02/26/98:
Technology Journal:
Digits
[Gambits and gadgets in the world of technology]
Oracle Corp. Chairman Larry Ellison held a private powwow with Steve Case, America Online Inc.'s chief, at last week's Technology, Entertainment and Design conference. Bill Gates might not like the drift of the conversation.
The topics, people familiar with the matter say, included possible collaboration on devices that connect TV sets to the Web -- meaning direct competition with Microsoft Corp.'s WebTV unit. The two men mulled the idea of using AOL as the interface for the box as well as a form of Netscape Communications Corp.'s Web browser.
Such a move would be a switch for AOL. The on-line giant chose Microsoft's browser over Netscape's in 1996. Mr. Case, in fact, has talked to WebTV about AOL playing a role in its set-top service, knowledgeable people say. Yet AOL has been in preliminary talks with Netscape about possibly buying its Web site, and Oracle is in a position to buy other parts of the struggling Internet company, people familiar with the issue say. Mr. Ellison is not eager to buy Netscape outright, these people say, but has a strong interest in keeping it a healthy opponent of Microsoft.
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