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Technology Stocks : MSFT Internet Explorer vs. NSCP Navigator -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Daniel Schuh who wrote (22708)	2/17/1999 1:22:00 PM
From: Rusty Johnson	Respond to of 24154

Microsoft exec: AOL hurting self to aid government's case BY DAVID L. WILSON Mercury News Staff Writer A top Microsoft offical accused America Online executives of going against their own company's interests to help the government make its ongoing antitrust case against the Redmond software giant. Brad Chase, a Microsoft vice president, told Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson that he believes AOL has not exercised an option to escape a contract with Microsoft because doing so would hurt the government's case. The contract requires AOL to promote Microsoft's Internet Explorer Web browsing software over rival Netscape Communications Corp.'s Navigator. AOL hopes to buy Netscape, but their executives say they will continiue using Internet Explorer as their primary Web broswer because the contract builds AOL access into every copy of Microsoft's Windows operating system. AOL representatives insist that arrangement is critical for its survival against other online access providers such as Microsoft's MSN, which is prominently featured on the Windows desktop. Under redirect this morning from lead Microsoft attorney John Warden, Chase dismissed that argument, saying that AOL already has prominent placement on the desktops of most computers through deals AOL has made with individual computer manufacturers. There's only one reason AOL could have for refusing to switch Netscape, Chase told Judge Jackson. ''That kind of shift would be inconsistent with AOL's desire to support the government in this case,'' he said. ''I believe AOL will switch to Netscape Navigator technologies as soon as they can.'' Chase's testimony will continue after a brief morning break. mercurycenter.com