Netscape Expands European Netcenter Portal Sites - European Netcenter Traffic Doubles

LONDON, (May 25, 1999) - Netscape, a subsidiary of America Online (NYSE: AOL), today announced it is expanding European Netcenter portal sites by signing marketing agreements with three leading European companies: World Online, Lycos Bertelsmann and VNU. In addition, Netscape announced that its European Netcenter portal sites are growing rapidly, having doubled traffic during the first three months of operation. This increase in traffic is just one of the factors cited by World Online, Lycos Bertelsmann and VNU as they announced new and expanded agreements with Netscape to deliver services and localised content to European consumers.

"Our relationships with European companies such as World Online, Lycos Bertelsmann, and VNU, demonstrate the value of Netscape browser and the strong momentum of the International Netcenter sites in Europe," said Linda Lawrence, vice president of International Netcenter. "Netscape helps companies build an online brand and increase their audience, as they deliver innovative services to new customers on the Internet."

The Netscape agreement with World Online is designed to make it more convenient for European consumers to get online. As part of the agreement, Netscape Communicator will be the default browser for the World Online service in seven European countries and will be distributed by World Online as part of the sign-up kit for their service. World Online will receive premier positioning on the Netscape International Netcenter sites.

"World Onlineís goal of delivering a European-wide Internet access service tailored to individual markets aligns perfectly with Netscapeís International strategy of expanding its Netcenter offerings to consumers everywhere," said Nina Brink, CEO of World Online. "Our relationship with Netscape will provide value to our customers by providing them with the best content and commerce services available on the Internet."

In addition, Lycos Bertelsmann and VNU announced expanded agreements with Netscape to deliver additional localised content to European customers in the Netherlands and Spain. Lycos Bertelsmann and VNU cited the increase in traffic for the Netscape European Netcenter sites among the factors for the expansion of their agreements.

Available today in the Netherlands, Netscape Netcenter 2.0 delivers a variety of local news covering Business, Technology, Sports, and Culture through a signed agreement with VNU, one of the largest publishing companies in Europe. VNU also provides a news ticker and the yellow pages for the Dutch site. Lycos Bertelsmann is delivering search and other local content channels and directories, including Business, Computers, Amusements, Art, Film, Careers and Travel.

"There is great value attached to working with Netscape," said Harry Michel, senior advisor, business development and analysis for VNU. "Their US expertise is an asset, as many of the techniques used there can be easily adapted or extended for local markets across Europe."

In Spain, Lycos Bertelsmann, a joint venture between Lycos, a leading Web media
company and Bertelsmann, one of the largest international media companies, has announced that its search and local content is now available on the next generation Netscape Netcenter 2.0. Lycos Bertelsmannís local content for the Spanish Netcenter includes Automobiles, Computers, Women, Health, Nature, Games, Jobs, Education and Government.

"Deciding to extend our search deal with Netscape to include localised content was really a natural progression as we have a very similar business strategy aimed at giving European users the information they really want," said Tony Philipp, COO of Lycos Bertelsmann, Europe. "I believe that through the relationship with Netscape we provide a content service that has an International scope but a truly local bias."

Netscape launched International Netcenter 2.0 sites in the France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom in October 1998. Today Netscapeís content and commerce services reach more than 15 million registered users in 18 international sites, which include, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latin America, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Netscape 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. Recently acquired by America Online, Inc., Netscape is based in Mountain View, California.

Additional information on Netscape is available on the Internet at http://home.netscape.com, by sending email to info@netscape.com, or by calling corporate sales at 650/937-2555.

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