To: detroit denny  who wrote (40932 ) 3/10/1999 12:13:00 PM From: LowtherAcademy     Read Replies (1)  | Respond to    of 41046  
All though I bailed on FTEL 4 months ago, I still keep up with it. Looks like the faithful will have an opportunity to average down again: HACKENSACK, N.J. (CBS.MW) -- Internet phone specialist IDT     Communications said Wednesday that its Net2Phone brand will be     featured on     Netscape's browser as part of a a multi-year, global distribution     deal.     IDT Communications (IDTC) and Mountain View,     Calif.-based Netscape (NSCP) agreed to bundle     Net2Phone on Netscape Communicator, and to feature     the service as a button on the browser's Personal     Toolbar.     "When you click on that (button) you will be able to     make Internet telephony calls," said IDT     Communications Executive Vice President Jonathan     Reich. "That's significant considering users will no     longer have to download our software. It'll be     integrated into the Netscape browsers."     The service will also be     integrated into Netscape's Net     Center; it'll be plugged in ads     on Netscape sites.     Last November Netscape     agreed to be acquired by     America Online (AOL) for     $4.2 billion. Reich declined to     comment on whether IDT will     pursue a deal with AOL, the     dominant online service with     more than 15 million     subscribers.     Net2Phone will soon raise its     profile with ads in USA Today     carrying the themeline,     "Net2Phone, your online     communications company,"     Reich said.     "With Netscape we've brought the PC to phone communications     piece out to     the masses," Reich said. Calls will cost as little as 4.9 cents per     minute, the     company said.     The Netscape deal follows pacts with Yahoo (YHOO) and Excite     (XCIT).     Introduced in 1996, Net2Phone was the first service to bridge the     Internet     with the public switched telephone network.     Shares of IDT Communications gained 1 1/2 to 16 15/16 shortly     after the     opening bell onWednesday. Netscape added 2 1/8 to 81 5/8.      Net2Phone competitors include VocalTec (VOCLS), RSL     Communications     (RSLCS), Inter-TEL (INTL), and NetSpeak (NSPK).