Netscape Unveils New Software
Netscape Communications Corp. unveiled software that lets publishers and businesses broadcast information to personal computers, in an attempt to undercut Microsoft Corp.’s dominance in desktop computing.
Netscape also announced agreements with PointCast Inc. and Marimba Inc. that will let their broadcast services work with Netscape’s new software, code-named Constellation.
Constellation sits atop the Windows desktop and lets users get data and documents from any network, either internally at their company or from the World Wide Web. If the documents are a Web page, e-mail, a spreadsheet or word processing, Constellation automatically calls up the program needed to view the document.
The broadcast model that Netscape is proposing is considered the next step in the development of the Internet.
“It allows information to find you, whenever and wherever you are,” said Netscape Chief Executive Jim Barksdale, who demonstrated the new technology in his keynote speech at the Comdex conference in Las Vegas.
The move is an attempt to take over Microsoft’s control of the PC, making Microsoft’s operating systems merely one section of the screen of options that Netscape’s software would display.
“Netscape is making a bid for Microsoft’s turf,” said John Robb, an analyst at Forrester Research Inc.
Netscape shares rose 25 cents to $57.75, while Microsoft shares fell $2.625 to $153.25. Both trade on Nasdaq.
Mountain View, Calif.-based Netscape has changed its focus to concentrate on the corporate market, and it’s pitching the new technology as a cheaper, easier way for companies to update information on their employees’ desktops.
Microsoft, though, is including broadcasting technology in the next update of its browsing software, which will be used to move within the Windows 95 and NT operating systems and link to the Internet. Netscape’s software is slated for release during the middle of next year, at about the same time or a little after Microsoft releases its new product.
“Netscape is making an announcement that isn’t based on any real, existing technology yet,” Robb said. “They still look like they are playing catch-up.”
The moves by Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft and Netscape to pursue a broadcast model underscore a shift in how computer users get information. Information such as news, stock quotes or intraoffice employee bulletins would be sent automatically either via a Web site or by the administrator of a corporate computer network.
Los Angeles-based PointCast runs a broadcast service that acts as a screen saver and has about 1.7 million users. Linking up with Netscape will give its service much wider distribution. Netscape will be able to offer its customers PointCast, which broadcasts information such as weather updates and news from Time-Warner Inc.’s CNN network and various newspapers.
Closely held Marimba broadcasts similar news using Sun Microsystems Inc.’s Java programming language.
