Netscape Names Maria Wilhelm Senior Vice President of Programming for Popular Netscape Netcenter Portal Site

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (October 27, 1998) - Netscape Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: NSCP) today announced, as part of its aggressive push to make Netcenter the fastest growing Internet portal, that Maria Wilhelm has been named senior vice president of programming for Netscape Netcenter. Wilhelm will be responsible for the strategy and development of Netcenter programming, services, and content. In addition, Wilhelm will work with Netscapeís numerous partners in the content and media industry. She will report directly to Mike Homer, executive vice president and general manager of Netscapeís Netcenter division.

Over the past several months, Netscape has expanded the consumer programming and services for Netcenter significantly. In July, Netscape launched its redesigned and expanded Netscape Netcenter 2.0 site with 17 content channels and a set of leading-edge consumer services. In the first three months of the new Netcenter 2.0 site, the monthly registration rate increased 112 percent. Netscape Netcenter now has more than 8 million members. In the same period, traffic on Netcenter increased steadily, with a 46 percent increase in daily page views during the months of July through September. Recently, Netscape launched new Local, Kids & Family and Entertainment consumer channels. Wilhelm brings a wealth of consumer, online community and new media programming expertise to the Netcenter business.

Most recently, Wilhelm served as managing partner of Digital Strategies, a firm focused on developing market entry and exit strategies, valuation boosting, and high-level partnerships for the Internet sector. Digital Strategies, which Wilhelm co-founded, has a client roster which includes Microsoft, Advanced Networks and Services, E-med Oncall and Entertainment Drive, in addition to various startups. Prior to that, Wilhelm served as president of The WELL and launched the spin-off software company WELL Engaged. She has also held a number of senior editorial positions at Time Inc., among them deputy editor of Time Inc.'s Pathfinder and editor of new media for People Magazine.

Wilhelm is the co-founder of the Internet Content Coalition, the non-profit trade association for producers and distributors of original content on the Web. The ICC's board of directors includes the heads of new media for CNET, MSNBC, The New York Times, Playboy, Sony, Time Inc., Warner Bros. Online, and Ziff Davis.

"With her long track record of success in publishing and the new media industry, Maria is an excellent addition to the Netcenter team," said Homer. "Hiring a senior vice president of programming marks another big step in the development of Netcenter as a major Internet portal. We look forward to putting Mariaís broad expertise and industry knowledge to work as we continue to grow Netcenter rapidly into the premier online destination for consumers."

"In a few short months, Netscape has expanded Netcenter into major Internet destination," said Wilhelm. "Mike Homer and his team have demonstrated their commitment to grow Netcenter even further by providing compelling content and an even greater range of interactive tools and services to help users get the most of their time online. That's an exciting challenge and one I'm thrilled to take on with Netcenter's first-rate team."

Netscape Netcenter is Netscapeís fast-growing portal site that provides users with a home base on the Internet. From Netcenter, users can navigate the Internet, access a broad range of consumer and business content and services and communicate with others online. The site includes 17 content channels, a set of leading-edge services, including Netscape-branded Search, Netscape Contact, SmartUpdate, Software Download, Member Directory, My Netscape personalization service, and WebMail.

Netscape Communications Corporation is a leading provider of software and services for businesses that want to transform the way they create and keep customers in the emerging Net Economy. The company offers a full line of enterprise software solutions, professional services, and a leading Internet portal to help companies build, buy or outsource Internet applications that drive revenue growth, build customer loyalty, and create new levels of business efficiency. Traded on NASDAQ under the symbol "NSCP," Netscape Communications Corporation is based in Mountain View, California.

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 650/937-2555 for corporations or 650/937-3777 for individuals.

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