Netscape Netbusiness Now Available Through Co-Branded Destination Site with CompuServe

New Search Feature Now Available for the Netbusiness Marketplace, Powered by PurchasePro

Netscape Netbusiness Offers Customized Netscape 6 Browser, Holiday Specials and More


MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., December 19, 2000 - Netscape Communications, a subsidiary of America Online, Inc. (NYSE: AOL), today announced the launch of its expanded Netscape Netbusiness (http://netbusiness.netscape.com/) service for small businesses, with improved services, new features and a new streamlined look and interface to create a better user experience.

By offering a range of easy-to-use and fully customizable information resources, productivity and communications tools, Netscape Netbusiness benefits small businesses and entrepreneurs at each stage of their venture - from building and running their enterprise to marketing, sales, and interacting with consumers and other businesses via the Netbusiness Card, which enables registered users to establish a free "online storefront."

In addition to its presence on AOL and Netscape, Netscape Netbusiness is now available on a co-branded site with CompuServe [http://netbusiness.compuserve.com], giving CompuServe's more than 2.8 million worldwide members easy access to a one-stop small business destination on the Internet to better manage both their operations and everyday lives. Netscape Netbusiness is also expected to extend to other America Online brands.

Netscape Netbusiness also announced today a new, enhanced search feature for the Netbusiness Marketplace, which connects with Purchase Pro's 240 private-label marketplaces and more than 30,000 companies. PurchasePro (Nasdaq: PPRO) is a leading enabler of business-to-business e-commerce solutions for companies of all sizes. The Marketplace Search function [http://mpsearch.netscape.com/UnspscBrowse] enables any buyer - from large businesses to small businesses to individual consumers - to search PurchasePro's marketplaces for a huge array of products and services.

Another marketplace feature also enables small businesses to benefit from the Netbusiness Card by getting a listing in the Netbusiness Marketplace, bringing them to an even wider worldwide network of potential buyers. The Netbusiness Marketplace is the result of a previously announced strategic alliance between America Online and PurchasePro.

For the Holiday Season, Netscape has special offers for small businesses that register for Netbusiness, including free and discounted products and services worth over $1,500 from the following partners: kinkos.com, OfficeDepot, NextDoor, ADP, Stamps.com and DigitalWork.com. These offers expire December 31, 2000. To take advantage of these offers, small businesses can visit http://netbusiness.aol.com/holidaypromo/ ; http://netbusiness.netscape.com/holidaypromo ; or http://netbusiness/compuserve.com/holidaypromo.

Netscape Netbusiness Delivers What Small Business Needs
Jim Martin, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Netscape, said: "Netscape Netbusiness is a powerful catalyst in helping small businesses succeed. The new design and services, and the relationship with CompuServe we are announcing today, demonstrate that we are listening to the needs of our users as we continue to expand the service."

Fred Singer, Senior Vice President for Small Business, said: "Netscape Netbusiness is giving small businesses the tools they need to succeed. We are really the only one-stop small business destination that offers small business owners a truly comprehensive set of resources, a way to establish a free online presence, and a much-needed sense of community."

Beginning today, Netbusiness users enjoy a streamlined new look, enhanced navigation, new services and improved content, including:

• No scrolling: the new home page now puts everything small businesses need within their immediate reach, so there is no need to scroll down the page.
• Faster page load times: Netscape has optimized the destination site's performance, making the whole experience even faster and more convenient.
• Consistent left side navigation across all pages: all services, including "My Industry Info," "Buy," "Market and Sell," "Get Online," and "Manage My Business," are now accessible through this convenient and easy-to-use navigation bar;
• Easier, more visible access to the Netbusiness Card: a button to create or edit a Netbusiness Card is now prominently placed at the top of the left-hand navigation bar;
• Central panel: the home page now features a central panel for content, community and commerce headlines and links;
• More visible customization starting on the Home Page: The right-hand bar on the Home Page now contains a user's personalized content feeds and service links, such as customized industry news feeds and local weather information and commonly used tools.
• Fortune Small Business Content: compelling content from one of the most respected sources of information for small businesses is available throughout Netscape Netbusiness -- including News and Advice columns. Helpful Resource Guides on an array of topics from Business Incubators and Federal Grant Programs for Small Business to Legal Advice are also available;
• Modular design and daily updates to more content: the modular design of the new home page - along with the continuous updates to general news feeds, the dynamic programming and daily updates to vertical news - enables the Netbusiness editorial staff to provide fresh content and respond more quickly to user needs;
• Prominent, persistent search: Netbusiness Search is now located at the top of the central panel on the Home Page and will be prominently located throughout all pages, enabling easier, faster access to industry-specific news, products and services, market research, expert advice, and much more.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) projects that 85% of the small business workforce will conduct all or part of their business over the World Wide Web by 2002.

Netscape Netbusiness Offers Customized Netscape 6 - Netbusiness Edition

To bring Netbusiness users the best in browser technology customized to their needs, Netscape is offering Netscape 6 -- Netbusiness Edition, downloadable from http://netbusiness.netscape.com/nim/download.psp. Launched in November, Netscape ® 6 "breaks the mold" by letting consumers choose how they use the Internet throughout their daily lives. Netscape 6 -- Netbusiness Edition incorporates an array of features customized for small business needs including:

• A default to the Netbusiness Home Page;
• Content and links tailored for small businesses in the Netscape 6 My Sidebar -- a mini, companion browser that stays with users wherever they are on the Web and keeps what's most important to them right at their fingertips. Content includes vertical industry news, Netbusiness search, stocks, general news, and weather;
• Pre-set bookmarks and links pointing to useful small business information.

Launched by AOL and Netscape in September, Netscape Netbusiness (http://netbusiness.netscape.com/) provides a free, one-stop home on the Internet to enable owners of small businesses to better manage both their operations and everyday lives. Netbusiness offers easy-to-use and fully customizable information resources, productivity and communications tools including message boards and custom Netbusiness version of Netscape Instant Messenger, and a free online presence with the innovative "Netbusiness Card", which enables registered users to create an "online storefront" for free.

About Netscape

Netscape Communications is a leading provider of open software and services that link people and information over the Internet. Netscape pioneered the development of world-class Web browsers, including Netscape Navigator and the new Netscape 6.

Netscape.com is one of the most visited sites on the Internet during daytime hours with over 36 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.