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Netscape Netcenter Demonstrates Dramatic Growth in Programming and Services: Adoption for My Netscape Up More Than 400 Percent, Netscape Search Traffic and Netscape Internet Keyword Queries Triple
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., (October 19, 1999) -- Netscape Communications, a leading Internet company and a subsidiary of America Online (NYSE: AOL), today announced that worldwide registrations for the Netscape Netcenter portal surpassed 20 million. In addition, Netscape has demonstrated growth in the many time-saving services that are an integral part of Netcenter, including My Netscape, Internet Keywords, Netscape Search and Netscape AOL Instant Messenger. These popular services provide close integration with Netscape Communicator 4.7, the latest version of its award-winning Netscape Communicator browser software.
"With Netscape Communicator and the Netscape Netcenter quality content and time-saving services, we are continuing to create a better Web experience for our target audience --the busy daytime consumer," said Jim Martin, senior vice president and general manager of Netscape Netcenter. "We are focused on providing Internet users with an innovative and exciting online experience that enhances the way in which they live, communicate, work, and learn on the Internet."
Mr. Martin continued, "In addition to exceeding 20 million registrants, we are excited that My Netscape, Netscape Search, Netscape AOL Instant Messenger screen name registrations are among the Netcenter programming and services that have increased significantly."
Popularity for Netscape's high-quality content and integrated services has increased dramatically. For example:
Adoption for My Netscape Personalization Service Increases More Than 400 Percent
The number of users that have created a customized My Netscape page has increased more than 400 percent in the past year. This service allows users to customize their Internet start page with the information they want to see, such as stock quotes, sports scores, breaking news and weather. My Netscape is also easily accessible as a button feature on Netscape Communicator.
Internet Keyword Queries Triple
Netscape's Internet Keywords queries have tripled in the past year. Internet Keywords help millions of users to find information quickly and easily by enabling consumers to search the Web, shop or look up a stock quote by typing in common words and phrases into the location field of Netscape Communicator. For example, users can type in the word "search" and a term such as "NFL," and Netscape's Internet Keywords will deliver a list of football-related sites and categories. For stock quotes, users can type in the word "quote" followed by a ticker symbol, and Netscape Internet Keywords delivers timely stock quotes. In addition, users can type in the word "shop" followed by the item they are interested in (example: "shop handbags"), and Netscape Internet Keywords will return the most relevant items related to the user's query.
Award Winning Netscape Search Doubles in Traffic in Less Than Three Months
The award winning Netscape Search (http://search.netscape.com) has doubled in traffic and popularity in the past three months. Netscape Search features the FirstPage Results System, which helps users find information quickly and easily. Netscape Search recently won the Searchenginewatch.com Company Name Test for accuracy and relevance.
Netscape Open Directory Project Surpasses One Million Sites
Netscape's Internet search directory, Netscape's Open Directory Project, which powers Netscape Search and the new AOL Search on AOL 5.0 and AOL.COM, has continued its unprecedented rate of growth by surpassing one million Web sites from a growing list of more than 16,000 active contributors. Netscape's Open Directory Project -- the first Internet directory that is built by the Web for the Web - lets contributors review and categorize sites based on their area of interest and expertise.
Netcenter Lifestyle, Local and Sports Channel Traffic Doubles
Over the past year traffic on the Local, Lifestyles and Sports channels has doubled.
· The Local Channel on Netcenter helps users gain easy access to local information, such as the latest local news, sports, dining and entertainment information.
· The Lifestyles Channel offers users a myriad of departments, such as Beauty & Fashion, Cultures & Groups, Fifty Plus, Food & Drink, Hobbies & Recreation, Home & Garden, Horoscopes, Men's and Women's Issues, Relationships, Weddings and others. The Lifestyles Channel also includes fun and entertaining services, such as Netscape Personals, a popular online photo personal service.
· The Sports Channel updates users with the latest sports news and information in a variety of sports categories and offers exciting online fantasy sports leagues.
Netscape AOL Instant Messenger Screen Name Registrations Triple
The instant messaging phenomenon continues to grow. Screen name registrations for Netscape AOL Instant Messenger, the Netscape offering of the popular AOL Instant Messenger service, have tripled since last October. Netscape AOL Instant Messenger is a fun and easy way to instantaneously communicate one-on-one or in a private group with friends, family and co-workers. Netscape AOL Instant Messenger is a free service available on the Netcenter site and as a feature of Netscape Communicator. AIM 3.0, the latest version of Netscape AOL Instant Messenger, now includes a news ticker that updates users with current headlines and a file transfer feature with virus scan that enables users to exchange pictures and documents -- instantly.
About America Online, Inc.
Founded in 1985, America Online, Inc., based in Dulles, Virginia, is the world's leader in interactive services, web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services. America Online, Inc. operates: two worldwide Internet services, America Online, with more than 18 million members, and CompuServe, worth more than 2 million members; several leading Internet brands including ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger, Digital City Inc.; Netscape Netcenter, AOL.COM portals; Netscape Navigator and Communicator browsers; AOL MovieFone, Spinner Networks and NullSoft, Inc.; and Digital Marketing Services, Inc., the leading provider of online, ROI-based, marketing services and online custom market research. Through its strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems, the company develops and offers easy-to-deploy, end-to-end e-commerce and enterprise solutions for companies operating in the Net Economy.
Netscape Netcenter is a leading 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 seventeen content channels, a set of leading-edge services including the new
Netscape-branded Search, Site Central, Netscape Contact, Netscape SmartUpdate, Software Download, Member Directory, My Netscape personalization service and WebMail.
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