Press Release

The Netscape Small Business Channel on Netcenter Simplifies the Internet to Help Small Businesses Manage and Grow a Business Online

Netscape Offers Seven Easy Steps and Doubles the Number of Online Services to Help Small Businesses Establish a Successful eBusiness

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., (March 8, 1999) - Netscape Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: NSCP) today announced the expansion of its popular Small Business Channel on the Netscape Netcenter portal site ((http://home.netscape.com). Whether Internet savvy or just starting out, businesses can look to the Netscape Small Business Channel to get a range of information, services, and tools to manage and grow a business online. A key feature of the channel, "eBusiness Basics," is the only place on the web where small businesses can establish a web presence, attract new customers, promote their businesses and begin selling products online, in seven easy steps.

"Our goal is to give small businesses simple and easy one-stop access to the best content, services, and tools that they need in order to manage and grow a successful business online. The Netscape Small Business Channel makes it easy for businesses to take full advantage of the web as a tool for marketing, administration and commerce," said Maria Wilhelm, senior vice president of programming for Netscape Netcenter. "Netscape has more than doubled the number of resources available on its Small Business Channel, aggregated its content and services into logical and easy-to-follow sections and has created a simple step-by-step process companies can follow to grow their presence online."

The Netscape Small Business Channel includes the following key features:

  • eBusiness Basics - eBusiness Basics is a unique resource that walks businesses through a simple seven-step process of establishing and building a web presence, acquiring new customers, promoting its business and conducting commerce on the web. As a first step, small businesses can choose from free WebMail, with the option to purchase the full-featured email service that includes their own domain name. In the coming weeks, Netscape will offer the ability to create and host a free web site and now offers the option of subscribing to an expanded service. Small businesses can use Netscape's Web Site Garage services to attract visitors to their web site with 11 free search engine listings; analyze their web site traffic with a free web site Hitometer; and optimize their site design and performance with Tune Up, a web site improvement service. In addition, small businesses are now able to find new customers with 200 free prospects from MySoftware Company. Also, Netscape is currently offering a resource of eCommerce directories.

  • Departments - The new and improved "Departments" section of the Small Business Channel is designed to provide small businesses with the latest services, information, and tools to manage and grow their business. "Departments" blends leading content, services, community and commerce into easy-to-navigate topical sections that correspond to familiar departments within a business: Business Finance, Online Essentials, Human Resources, Marketing, Office Outfitter, Research, and Women in Business.

    In addition, the Small Business Channel provides small businesses that are just starting out or more established businesses that are looking for information resources, with best-of-breed content that ranges from marketing and sales techniques to general business information that help small businesses manage their business better.

    Netscape's goal in redesigning its Small Business Channel is to create the definitive destination site for small businesses that enables them to take charge of their Internet experience. Available today, the following information and services are now available from the Netscape Small Business Channel:

  • At Your Office - AtYourOffice.com, the world's largest online office products store, has harnessed the power of the Internet to offer small office/home office consumers with over 27,000 products and services. This well organized site offers a "Best Price Guarantee" and free next business-day delivery on orders over $25.

  • CCH Business Owner's Toolkit - CCH Business Owner's Toolkit is a leading provider of tax and business law information and software, and provides a wide range of services for accountants, attorneys and other business professionals. Established in 1995, its CCH Business Owner's Toolkit group provides specialized tax, human resources, finance, business planning and legal news, information and tools for entrepreneurs who want to start, run, and grow a successful small business.

  • Inc. Online - Inc. Online, "The web site for growing companies," (http://www.inc.com) and the leader in providing content to small and growing businesses, offers features and editorial.

  • MySoftware - MySoftware's MyProspects.com, the world's first e-prospecting service to help small businesses find new customers and grow their business. The service allows users to select a profile of their desired customers and instantly download highly targeted contact data.

  • Netscape's Web Site Garage - Netscape Web Site Garage provides small businesses with a suite of services for automated web site promotion, maintenance and communication. Web Site Garage services enable small- to medium-sized businesses leverage the power of the Internet to build and execute a strong web presence and drive profitability.

    Netscape Netcenter is Netscape's fast-growing portal site, with over ten million members. Netcenter provides users with a home base on the Internet. Netscape Netcenter provides users with smart tools and services that empower users to take charge of their Internet experience. 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 eighteen content channels and 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 (corporate sales).

    Netscape, Netscape Navigator, Netscape Certificate Server, Netscape FastTrack Server, Netscape ONE, SuiteSpot, and the Netscape N and Ship's Wheel logos are registered trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation in the United States and other countries. Other Netscape logos, product names, and service names are also trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation, which may be registered in other countries.