Netscape also announced that it will provide OLE support and has published its Netscape Client Application Programming Interface (NCAPI) to enable other applications to integrate easily with its Netscape Navigator software, bringing additional capabilities and flexibility to users. For example, application vendors of document viewers can use NCAPI to provide compatibility with existing Macintosh and PC desktop-published documents. NCAPI will also enable easy incorporation of new media types into the Netscape environment.
In addition to these efforts, Netscape Communications has joined CommerceNet, a non-profit consortium of organizations building an open, Internet-based infrastructure for electronic commerce in Silicon Valley. Netscape's announcements are aimed at creating an open software environment in which products from multiple vendors can interoperate.
"Open standards are critical to the long-term evolution and growth of the Internet, and we will continue to support and actively participate in standards efforts," said Marc Andreessen, vice president of technology and co-founder of Netscape Communications. "By offering a reference implementation of SSL and by publishing an open API for our client, we hope to speed the evolution of standards necessary for electronic commerce and rich online communications."
SSL technology has already been widely adopted through Netscape's partnerships with such companies as MCI, Bank of America, MasterCard, First Data Corporation, Novell, Digital Equipment Corp. and Silicon Graphics.
Netscape's open software products include the Internet's first secure server, the Netsite Commerce Server, which incorporates the SSL protocol based on RSA Data Security technology. When paired with Netscape Navigator or other Internet browsers supporting SSL, the Netsite Commerce Server lets users take advantage of such commercial services as online publications, financial services and interactive shopping.
Compatible with other World Wide Web browsers and servers, Netscape Navigator and Netsite servers bring secure communications, performance and point-and-click simplicity to companies and individuals who want to create or access information services on global networks. The products offer easy-to-use interfaces for serving and accessing hypermedia information on the net, including formatted text, graphics, audio, and video. According to statistics from popular World Wide Web sites, Netscape Navigator now accounts for more than 65 percent of browser usage on the Web. To ensure compatibility with software products from other vendors, future Netscape client and server products will include support for the Secure HyperText Transport Protocol (SHTTP) security proposal in addition to SSL.
Netscape Communications Corporation is a premier provider of open software to enable people and companies to exchange information and conduct commerce over the Internet and other global networks. The company was founded in April 1994 by Dr. James H. Clark, founder of Silicon Graphics, Inc., a Fortune 500 computer systems company; and Marc Andreessen, creator of the NCSA Mosaic research prototype for the Internet. Privately held, Netscape Communications Corporation is based in Mountain View, California.
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