New, Enhanced Preview Version Underscores Netscape's Aggressive Commitment to Delivering a Customizable, Convenient, Secure, and Connected Browser

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- August 8, 2000 - Netscape Communications, a subsidiary of America Online, Inc. (NYSE: AOL), today announced the availability of Netscape® 6 Preview Release 2 via free download from www.netscape.com/download. Offering new features and added functionality emphasizing customization, convenience, security and connectivity across multiple platforms, Preview Release 2 underscores the company's commitment to developing new innovations for Internet users and delivering the full power and versatility of the interactive medium. The next-generation Netscape 6 browser is cross-platform/cross-device, standards-compliant, open source, and can used by any company in the industry free of charge.

Following the successful introduction of the Preview Release 1 version of Netscape 6 this spring, Preview Release 2 includes a wealth of new, much-anticipated features:

** "Themes" allow users to change the look of the browser by applying different combinations of design elements or "skins;"

** Netscape WebMail access directly from Netscape 6 Mail combines the power of the Netscape Mail application with the flexibility and connectivity of WebMail;

** A new strong-crypto protected Password Manager builds on the privacy and security offerings of Cookie Manager and offers users the convenience of streamlining and protected Password use across the Internet; and

** New My Sidebar features, including My Sidebar Central and My Sidebar Directory, as well as additional partnerships, continue the momentum and adoption for Netscape's innovative My Sidebar feature.

Netscape 6 also features additional support for International users.

"The Preview Release 2 version of Netscape 6 continues our aggressive push to deliver a next-generation browser designed to meet the needs of a variety of Internet audiences such as consumers, corporate users and Web developers. Built on the open source code, Netscape 6 continues to fulfill its promise to deliver a browser that is smaller and faster, offers a complete communications package, leads the industry in standards compliance and can run across a wide variety of platforms, from traditional desktop PCs to new computing devices," said Jim Martin, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Netscape. "As we work towards delivering the final version of Netscape 6 this fall, we continue to be tremendously excited about the possibilities that the browser brings to drive innovation and competition while continuing to focus on extending the power and convenience of the Internet to every consumer."

Themes - Customization of the Browser's Look

Netscape 6 Themes offer users the ability to customize the appearance of Netscape 6 by selecting different combinations of graphic elements or "skins," beginning with the new Netscape "Classic" Theme, which is available in Preview Release2. This feature offers businesses the opportunity to create and distribute custom versions of the new browser with their own branding. Users can easily switch between Themes and each Theme Netscape ships will offer support through all components - Navigator, Mail, Netscape Instant Messenger and Composer.

With Preview Release 2, Netscape also is kicking-off a "Netscape 6 Themes Contest" for active Internet users and Web developers. Open to all, users can enter to win major prizes (including a plasma television from Philips Electronics, a Sony digital camera and a special edition Apple iBook) and have their Themes included in the final shipping version of Netscape 6. The best Themes from around the world will be showcased in Netscape's "Theme Park." For contest rules, information and prizes, users should visit www.netscape.com/themes.

Netscape Mail - Manages All Internet Communications

Netscape Mail enhancements for Preview Release 2 feature support for multiple accounts including Netscape WebMail, AOL, POP3 and IMAP e-mail accounts. In addition, the seamless integration of Instant Messenger and Netscape Mail lets users see whether senders or recipients are online, allowing them to avoid "e-mail tag" by engaging in a real-time chat when necessary.

Other Netscape Mail improvements in PR2 include: e-mail address auto-complete when addressing messages; the ability to add, delete and modify e-mail filters; the ability to search for messages based on sender or words in the subject line; easier subscription to newsgroups; mailing lists in Address Book; automatic import of Address Book information from Netscape Communicator 4.5 and higher; and the ability to use multiple SMTP servers.

Also new in PR2, users can communicate instantly with groups of co-workers, friends and family through Netscape Instant Messenger's Buddy Chat feature, which also supports multiple screen names and now offers "Away" messages.

Powerful Tools that Empower Consumers to Protect their Personal Privacy Online

Preview Release 2 introduces a suite of powerful new consumer privacy tools that empower consumers to take greater control of their own online security. The Netscape 6 Cookie Manager gives users greater control over their online privacy through the regulation of how cookies are set and modified and over the information that is made available to Web sites. The Cookie Manager also allows users to view and delete individual Cookies.

The browser's Password Manager feature addresses the problem of multiple login names and passwords by storing and automatically providing passwords on future visits to a site, while a Forms Manager delivers similar convenience by automatically inputting common information like name and address.

The Netscape Personal Security Manager (PSM) allows this information to be encrypted and accessed using a single master password, offering consumers further protection and convenience. Consumers have total control over how and when all of these features are used.

My Sidebar - Keeps Users Connected to What's Important

Located on the left side of the Netscape 6 interface and introduced in the PR1 release, My Sidebar gives users a convenient place to keep track of the things that are important to them. My Sidebar allows users to keep the online functions and information they rely on most in one place, right at their fingertips at all times. Consumers can set up My Sidebar to read the latest news, maintain a custom stock portfolio, check their Buddy Lists, or choose from hundreds of other tabs from across the Web. As users browse the Web, My Sidebar remains persistent on the desktop and refreshes itself automatically to reflect updated news and information throughout the day, keeping them connected to customized information on specially created tabs.

New in PR2, My Sidebar Central brings together all the information about My Sidebar, including instructions on My Sidebar tab creation, which any Web site can take advantage of through the feature's open architecture. Additionally, a new Sidebar Directory presents the comprehensive listing of all known tabs available to the public, including new tabs from: Real.com Guide, SportsLine.com, Digital City, Mapquest, Netscape Travel, Hewlett-Packard Company and GlobeXplorer.

Netscape 6 International Support and the Ability to Switch Language and Locale

Anticipating a growing international demand for a superior browser and online environment, Netscape Preview Release 2 is also available today in Japanese. German and French language versions will become available within 30 days. All releases allow users to easily switch language user interfaces, buttons and menus, and regional settings through a Language/Region Selector. Netscape 6 will also automatically detect character sets so users will automatically be able to view foreign language sites without being prompted to choose the appropriate character. In addition, international users can now access their existing US-based WebMail accounts through their localized browser.

About Netscape 6
Netscape 6 is a premier gateway for delivering information and communications services across rapidly converging interactive platforms. It is based on contributions from developers around the world through mozilla.org, the organization chartered with managing Netscape's open source initiative among Internet developers and Netscape. Building on the open source code, the new Netscape Navigator in Netscape 6 was created with Netscape's new Gecko browsing engine software and Gecko Technologies, to Internet-enable a wide variety of applications and products. Netscape 6 also features industry-leading standards support and is the first commercial browser to fully implement open Web standards including XML, HTML 4.0, CSS1, W3C DOM Level 0 and 1, JavaScript 1.5, and RDF, enabling developers to write once to W3C standards to build rich, dynamic Web pages and XML Web-based applications that look and run as intended across a variety of platforms and devices.

About Netscape

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. A subsidiary of 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.