FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Donna Sokolsky, (650) 937-3858
sokolsky@netscape.com
NETSCAPE DELIVERS “GECKO” BROWSING ENGINE INCORPORATING ADVANCED
FEATURES FOR INTERNET BROWSING ANYWHERE
Small, Fast Browsing Engine For Virtually Any Application, Computing
Platform, Device Or Developer
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (December 7, 1998) — Netscape Communications
Corporation (NASDAQ: NSCP) today delivered the first version of “Netscape
Gecko,” its next-generation browsing engine, to thousands of Internet
developers. Netscape Gecko — formally code-named “Raptor ” reaches a new
milestone for browser technology in speed, smaller size and full standards
support. The revolutionary technology is designed to Internet-enable
virtually any application, operating system or device. Netscape Gecko is
the first software product from Netscape based on contributions from
mozilla.org, the organization chartered with managing Netscape’s open
source initiative among thousands of Internet developers and Netscape.
“Today’s delivery of the new Gecko browsing engine ushers in a new era of
‘write once, browse anywhere’ because content developers can now write once
to W3C standards, and their content is accessible from virtually any
application OS and device,” said Bob Lisbonne, senior vice president of
client products at Netscape. “Gecko demonstrates Netscape’s continuing role
as the preeminent Internet technology innovator.”
At the heart of future versions of Netscape Navigator and Netscape
Communicator, the Gecko browsing engine offers consumers and developers
several next-generation key benefits including:
Size: Netscape Gecko’s browsing engine is smaller than 1.4 megabytes,
bringing the promise of the Internet to a variety of smaller consumer
devices that previously did not have the capacity to run a full-featured
browser. Gecko fits on a single floppy disk.
Speed: The new Gecko engine is several times faster than previous
versions of Internet browsing software.
Standards: Because Gecko is the first and only browser technology to
fully implement the latest W3C standards, it enables developers to build
rich, dynamic Web pages and Web-based applications that look and run as
intended across a variety of platforms and devices. This saves developers
time and money while allowing them to deliver state-of-the-art content.
Gecko features full support for open Internet standards such as CSS, HTML4,
DOM1, RDF and XML. In addition to supporting these standards in the layout
engine, a component of Gecko enables the user interface of applications to
be built using these standards.
Source: Gecko represents the first software release from Netscape and
mozilla.org’s open source initiative. By harnessing the talent of thousands
of developers worldwide, mozilla.org has accelerated Internet software
development even beyond Internet time. Additionally, independent software
developers corporate Information Technology departments will now have
complete access to the modular source code and freedom to freely license
the source, make changes and build customized versions to accommodate their
individual needs.
The Gecko engine was created to enable Internet browsing anywhere by
delivering the power of the Internet to:
Virtually Any Application: Through Gecko, PC applications such as instant
messaging and chat software, email and finance and gaming software can
integrate Internet browsing. The same Gecko engine will also be at the
heart of major new releases of Netscape Navigator and Netscape
Communicator.
Virtually Any Operating System: Because it is cross-platform, the Gecko
browsing engine will be able to run on multiple computing systems. Gecko
will initially be available on Windows, Macintosh and UNIX, and will be
easily portable to many additional operating systems.
Virtually Any Device: Gecko is designed to power numerous consumer
devices including handheld phones, PDAs, fax machines and TV set top boxes.
Through Gecko, access to the Web can become even more pervasive than it is
today. Gecko can allow consumers to access stock quotes and make trades
while on the go, or shop for the holidays all from the comfort of their
living room using their favorite device.
Virtually Any Developer: Any software developer will have free access to
Gecko’s source code. This enables any developer to make customizations to
Gecko, giving them maximum flexibility. The source code is available for
download at http://www.mozilla.org.
The developer preview of Netscape’s Gecko browsing engine was made
available today. Developers everywhere will be able to download and try the
Gecko browsing engine at http://developer.netscape.com. The final version
of Netscape Gecko is expected to be available during the first half of
1999.
Netscape Communications Corporation 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. The company offers a full line of
enterprise software solutions, professional services, and a leading
Internet portal to help companies build, buy or outsource Internet
applications that drive revenue growth, build customer loyalty, and create
new levels of business efficiency. Traded on NASDAQ under the symbol NSCP,
Netscape Communications Corporation is based in Mountain View, California.