Netscape Will Cut as Many as 400 Jobs

Netscape Communications Corp. said it will fire as many as 400 employees, or about 13% of its 3,200-person work force. Last week the Mountain View-based Internet software company warned it would report a fourth-quarter loss as it struggles to compete with Microsoft’s free Internet Explorer browser. Netscape, best known for its Navigator program, said then that it would take a $35-million charge to cut an unspecified number of jobs and close some offices. Roseanne Siino, vice president of corporate communications, said employees are being fired now and she declined to comment on a total number until Jan. 27, when Netscape reports its earnings. Netscape expects a fourth-quarter loss of $85 million to $89 million, or 88 cents a share to 92 cents a share. Shares rose $1.13 to close at $19.06 on Nasdaq.