Innovative, Easy-to-Use and Fully Customizable Service Delivers Valuable New Benefits to Fast-Growing Small Business Community

Provides Free, One-Stop Home on Internet to Better Manage Both Business and Everyday Life

Offers "Netbusiness Card" for Small Businesses to Market and Sell Online for Free

Conveniently Available on Netscape Netcenter, AOL WorkPlace Channel and Across Family of Brands

DULLES, VA and MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA, September 13, 2000 -- America Online, Inc. (NYSE: AOL), the world's leading interactive services company, today announced the launch of Netscape Netbusiness, its innovative service to deliver valuable new benefits to fast-growing small business community, at the Internet Commerce Expo (ICe) in San Jose, California.

Netscape Netbusiness provides a free, one-stop home on the Internet to enable owners of small businesses to better manage both their operations and everyday lives -- offering easy-to-use and fully customizable information resources, productivity and communications tools, and a free online presence to reach new customers.

Netscape Netbusiness is conveniently available on the AOL WorkPlace Channel (Keyword: Netbusiness) on the flagship AOL service, available to the millions AOL members who own their own small businesses, as well as Netscape Netcenter (netscape.netbusiness.com), CompuServe, ICQ, MapQuest, and Digital City.

According to the US Small Business Administration (SBA), more than half of the private work force is employed in one of the over 28 million small businesses nationwide with fewer than 10 employees. Together, those small businesses account for 47% of all US sales. By 2002, the SBA predicts, fully 85% of these will conduct all or part of their business over the World Wide Web.

Among the exciting features, content, community and functionality that Netscape Netbusiness brings together in one convenient place for small businesses include:

** The valuable "Netbusiness Card" that puts small businesses on the Internet for free to market and sell to millions of online consumers;

** Useful industry-specific news, market research, and expert advice;

** Such leading management features as an online calendar and a specially configured business version of Netscape Instant Messenger that includes customizable tabs that let users keep key online resources available on their desktop all the time;

** The "Shop Direct" center that offers fast and direct access to the best prices for office products, industry-specific products, and general services, as well as "request-for-quote" services, administrative support, and more;

** Community tools that empower owners of small businesses to easily and conveniently network -- sharing information and possible new business opportunities; and

** "My Life" features that deliver powerful solutions for everyday lifestyle issues, such as balancing work and family and making the most of the business day, as well as customized news, weather, stock quotes and more.

Creating Valuable New Convenience for Owners of Small Business

Barry Schuler, President of AOL Interactive Services, said: "Market research shows that Netscape is one of the brands most associated with business. Combined with America Online's reach and marketing power as well as its expertise and experience in creating the most convenient and easy-to-use Internet experience for consumers, Netscape Netbusiness will have all the tools to become the leader in this fast-growing but under-served market."

Jim Martin, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Netscape Netcenter, said: "Since joining America Online, Netscape has focused on serving the exploding at-work market -- using our powerful business brand and technological leadership to develop products and services for the Company's entire family of brands. With Netscape Netbusiness, we are creating innovative new value for both small business owners and America Online."

Fred Singer, Senior Vice President for Small Business, said: "Netscape Netbusiness provides owners and employees of small businesses with a one-stop home on the Internet to help them better manage their operations, their industry and their lives. Netscape Netbusiness users now will be able to track key trends, network for leads, market and sell on the Internet, find the best deals on supplies, stay in close touch with customers, consult directly with experts and simplify their lives -- all for free. Netscape Netbusiness makes it convenient and easy for small businesses to take the fullest possible advantage of the Internet's power."

"Netbusiness Card" Offers Online Storefront for Free

The innovative "Netbusiness Card" enables registered users to create an "online storefront" for free -- putting all of the small business's key information on the Internet for other businesses and tens of millions of online consumers.

The simple set-up process that takes only minutes to complete, and provides owners of small businesses with e-mail and instant messaging to reach new customers, market and sell their goods and services, make available convenient maps and directions to their businesses, and many other valuable benefits.

All "Netbusiness Cards" will be listed for free in the service's marketplace directory, as well as the widely available online Yellow Pages and other major search directories.

Top Partners and Content Providers Make Netscape Netbusiness Even More Valuable

Among the key partners and content providers who are providing valuable content to Netscape Netbusiness are: ADP, Bigstep.com, AOL's Digital City, DigitalWork.com, Dreamlife, eFrenzy, FedEx Corp., inc.com, kinkos.com, MapQuest.com, Monster.com, Network Solutions, Inc., OfficeDepot, Onvia.com, Powerize Inc., PurchasePro.com, SmartAge.com, Stamps.com and YellowBrix.

In addition, several Netscape Netbusiness partners are participating in the marketing of the service. For example, CD-ROMs that will contain the Netscape Communicator browser software and take users directly to the Netbusiness registration site will be distributed for free in all Office Depot stores across the country.

About Netscape

Netscape Communications Corporation is a leading provider of open software that links people and information over the Internet. Netscape pioneered the development of world-class Web browsers, including Netscape Navigator and the new Netscape(r) 6, a preview of which is available now in free download from www.netscape.com/download. Netscape Netcenter is one of the most visited sites on the Internet during daytime hours with over 32 million registrants who have access to smart tools and services that empower users to take charge of their Internet experience. 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 650-254-1900.

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 24 million members, and CompuServe, with more than 2.8 million members; several leading Internet brands including ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger and Digital City, Inc.; the Netscape Netcenter and AOL.COM portals; the Netscape Navigator and Communicator browsers; MapQuest.com, the leader in providing online, voice and wireless mapping, directions and destination information solutions to businesses and consumers; AOL MovieFone, the nation's #1 movie listing guide and ticketing service; and Spinner.com and NullSoft's Winamp, leaders in Internet music. 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 and the Netscape N logo are registered trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation in the United States and other countries.

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For a replay of the Netbusiness press conference remarks made at the Internet Commerce Expo on September 13, 2000, please visit www.iceexpo.com beginning at 10 AM PST.