MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., and AUSTIN, Texas (August 28, 1996) -- Netscape Communications Corporation and IBM today announced the development of a native OS/2, speech-enabled version of the Netscape Navigator client software for OS/2 Warp 4. The availability of a native OS/2 version of Navigator will broaden the scope of content currently available to OS/2 customers via the Internet.
Netscape Navigator for OS/2 is scheduled to enter beta testing by September and is expected to be generally available to end users in the fourth quarter, shortly after the launch of OS/2 Warp 4. The client will be downloadable at no cost from both the Netscape and IBM home pages to users of OS/2 Warp.
OS/2 Warp 4, IBM's new client operating system solution, will be available in September. Incorporating speech recognition software, and Sun Microsystem's Java technology, OS/2 Warp 4 offers users some of the industry's most advanced Internet capabilities. With 40 million users, Netscape Navigator is the most popular Internet client software. With the addition of OS/2, it will be available on 17 platforms, including Windows 95, Windows 3.1, Macintosh and popular Unix platforms.
"With built-in Java and Internet capabilities, OS/2 Warp 4 will become the ideal client solution as we move toward a network-based computing environment," said John W. Thompson, general manager of IBM's Personal Software Products division. "The agreement with Netscape provides our users with a leading Internet client that will include increased speech functionality currently unavailable with other operating systems. Netscape Navigator for OS/2 Warp 4 will enable users to surf the Web with a simple voice command."
"This announcement represents an important strategic agreement for both Netscape and IBM because OS/2 is an operating system that many corporate MIS managers count on today," said James Barksdale, president and chief executive officer of Netscape. "By building upon our strategic relationship with IBM, we are able to provide all the features of Netscape Navigator to more than 14 million OS/2 users. Our support for the OS/2 operating system reinforces Netscape's commitment to delivering cross-platform open systems software on 17 platforms."
Netscape Navigator for OS/2 will be fully speech enabled, supporting the speech navigation and recognition capabilities in OS/2 Warp 4. This will allow users to simply ask the computer to "jump" to a site on the Internet and subsequently move around within that site by talking to the computer.
"Netscape has shown that it can harness the native power of OS/2 Warp 4 and its voice recognition capabilities to extend and enhance its open platform Navigator product," said Tim Sloane, an industry analyst with Aberdeen Group. "By making a native OS/2 version of Navigator available to its customers, IBM is significantly expanding the number of Web sites accessible to OS/2 users."
Netscape Navigator 2.02, the most widely used version of Netscape Navigator, is currently being ported to OS/2 Warp 4 by Netscape and IBM, and is scheduled to be available in the fourth quarter. In addition, Netscape and IBM are jointly working on the development of native OS/2 versions of future releases of Netscape Navigator.
Netscape Navigator for OS/2 will be very easy to download, with the URL listed on the user's desktop once OS/2 Warp 4 is installed. A simple click on the icon will take the user to the IBM Web site where the Netscape Navigator client software can be downloaded. In addition, users will also receive the software necessary for access to the IBM Global Network in the U.S. at a rate of $19.95 per month for unlimited Internet access.
CLIENT SOFTWARE
THAT
ENHANCES
OS/2
WARP'SCAPABILITIES
Netscape Navigator is an ideal tool for accessing information on the
Internet, offering users a powerful, flexible and easy-to-use environment.
With Netscape
Navigator, OS/2 users will have a native, Java-enabled Web client and the
features that have made Netscape Navigator today's most popular Internet client
software.
Some of the features that will be new to OS/2 users include:
In addition, OS/2 Warp 4 users will have Netscape Navigator's SSL encryption, point-and-click navigation, threaded discussion groups, file transfers, graphical user interface and other Internet services in a seamlessly integrated package.
Netscape Navigator will take advantage of the features of OS/2 Warp 4, including Java integration, which allows users to drag and drop Java applets from the Internet to their desktop, requiring only a voice command or mouse click to launch the applet. Netscape's products are based on open industry standards and protocols, and are compatible with the installed base of World Wide Web clients and services.
OS/2
WARP 4
The first Intel-based PC operating system solution to integrate speech
navigation and dictation as well as Java technology, OS/2 Warp 4 will be a
leading client-based operating system solution in today's intranet/Internet
environment. With OS/2 Warp 4, users can look forward to using the
battle-tested engine they are familiar with in OS/2 Warp Version 3, with an
improved user interface and easy Internet access. OS/2 Warp 4 will run in
heterogeneous environments with enhanced hardware and software compatibility,
offering users true cross-platform performance in a network computing
environment.
ABOUT
NETSCAPE
Netscape Communications Corporation is a premier provider of open software
linking people and information over enterprise networks and the Internet. The
company offers a full line of clients, servers, development tools and
commercial applications to create a complete platform for next-generation, live
on-line applications. Traded on NASDAQ as the symbol "NSCP," Netscape
Communications Corporation is based in Mountain View, Calif.
IBM and OS/2 are trademarks or registered trademarks of IBM Corporation. Netscape and Netscape Navigator are trademarks of the Netscape Communications Corporation. Java is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. All other product and service names may be trademarks and/or service marks of their respective owners. Additional information on Netscape Communications Corporation is available on the Internet at http://home.netscape.com, by sending email to info@netscape.com, or by calling 415/937-2555 (corporations) or 415/937-3777 (individuals).