Here's what the Wall Street Journal said today re:NSCP....
9 13:00 T =Netscape, AOL-2: Alliance Could Include Browser Integration
NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Shares of Netscape Communications Corp. (NSCP) and America Online Inc. (AOL) were up after The Wall Street Journal reported that the companies have been in discussions on a possible partnership.
The discussions include a possible deal to integrate Netscape's Navigator browser into AOL's online service, which has about 14 million members worldwide and currently uses Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) competing browser, Internet Explorer, The Journal said.
Netscape has been developing coding that could be used to make the browser switch for some time since AOL's exclusive agreement to use Microsoft's browser in its service expires at the end of this year.
Microsoft convinced AOL back in 1996 to use Internet Explorer in part by giving the online service prominent placement on the desktop of Microsoft's Windows operating system.
That relationship has been critical to helping Microsoft expand its share of the browser market at Netscape's expense.
Netscape's share of the browser market had dropped to 42% in July from more than 50% at the start of 1998, while Microsoft's share of the market - including numbers from America Online - had climbed to 43% from 39%, according to a study released by International Data Corp. about six weeks ago.
The Journal reported that the talks between Netscape and AOL have also included discussions of a possible investment in Netscape by AOL.
Netscape's shares were recently up 5 1/8, or 17.5%, at 34 3/8 on Nasdaq volume of 14,394,500 compared with an average daily volume of 4,046,400.
America Online's NYSE-listed shares were up 8, or 10.6%, at 83 3/8 on volume of 17,942,600 compared with an average daily volume of 7,83,600.
(END) DOW JONES NEWS 11-18-98
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