FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Nathan Tyler
Netscape Communications Corp.
650-937-4927
Sarah Hofstetter
IDT Public Relations
201-928-2882
Janine Kutliroff
IDT Investor Relations
201-928-4391
NETSCAPE AND NET2PHONE SIGN GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
Companies to Deliver Low Cost PC-to-Phone Service Enabling Millions to
Instantly Place Calls From a Computer to any Telephone in the World
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and HACKENSACK, N.J. (March 10, 1999) Netscape
Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: NSCP) and IDTs (NASDAQ: IDTC)
Net2Phone subsidiary today announced a multi-year global distribution
agreement under which Net2Phones PC-to-phone service will be
exclusively bundled with Netscapes leading Internet browser, Netscape
Communicator, and will be featured as a button on the browser Personal
Toolbar. In addition, the Net2Phone service is scheduled to be
prominently featured on Netscapes fast growing Internet portal,
Netscape Netcenter enabling millions of consumers to place telephone
calls directly from their computers to any telephone in the world.
The companies also announced today that Net2Phone plans to utilize
Netscapes line of e-commerce software to serve as the engine for future
Net2Phone e-commerce solutions including Click2Talk, Click2Call Me,
easysurf.com and the Net2Phone Web site.
The implications of this partnership are tremendously powerful in that
it distinguishes our Internet browser by bridging the gap between the
Internet and the conventional phone system, said Mike Homer executive
vice president and general manager of Netscapes Netcenter division.
Net2Phone has the potential to voice-enable the World Wide Web and
brings powerful PC-to-phone services to our Netcenter and Netscape
Communicator customers.
We believe the future of telephony is linked to the Internet. By
providing integration of PC-to-phone with one of the top leaders in the
industry, Net2Phone will further establish itself as the premier
provider of Web-based communications, said Howie Balter, chief
executive officer of Net2Phone. Our partnership with Netscape provides
significant value to the Web experience.
The powerful combination of Netscape Communicator, Net2Phone and the
Netscape Netcenter portal will offer consumers a convenient and low cost
way to keep in touch with friends, family and business associates. By
incorporating Net2Phone into Netscapes suite of services, Web users
with one phone line can place phone calls and surf the Web at the same
time. In addition, because calls are placed directly through the
Internet, consumers will realize substantial savings of up to 95
percent. Net2Phone will be fully integrated into Netcenter with premier
positioning in Netscape Contact and in the SmartUpdate and the Browser
Plug-ins pages.
We believe that Net2Phone is a leading technology provider in the IP
telephony space, said Marc Andreessen chief technology officer at
Netscape. We are looking forward to the technology benefits that this
strategic relationship brings to Netscape.
This is a tangible win-win for both parties. It is a significant
endorsement of IDTs technology, as well as its network, and places
Net2Phone directly on millions of desktops, said Hilary Mine, executive
vice president of Probe Research. Equally important, it provides
Netscape with the competitive advantage of an immediate, operable and
global IP telephony solution.
As the leading provider of Internet telephony (Frost & Sullivan, May
1998), Net2Phone has routed millions of calls from computers to
telephones around the world, enabling users to use the Web as a full
service communications tool. Introduced in 1996, Net2Phone was the
first service to bridge the Internet with the public switched telephone
network. Net2Phones myriad of services have become a communications
option for individuals and businesses worldwide.
IDT is a leading emerging multinational carrier that combines its
position as an international telecommunications operator, its experience
as an Internet service provider and its leading position in Internet
telephony to provide a broad range of telecommunications services to its
wholesale and retail customers worldwide. The company provides its
customers with integrated and competitively priced international and
domestic long distance, pre-paid calling cards, Internet access and,
through its Net2Phone product offerings, Internet telephony services
including Net2Phone Direct, Net2Fax, Click2Talk, and easysurf.com. For
more information about IDTs Internet telephony services, please visit
www.net2phone.com.
Netscape Netcenter is Netscapes leading portal site that provides users
with a home base on the Internet. From Netcenter, users can navigate
the Internet, access a broad range of consumer and business content and
services, and communicate with others online. The site includes
eighteen content channels, a set of leading-edge services including the
new Netscape-branded Search, Netscape Contact, Netscape SmartUpdate,
Software Download, Member Directory, My Netscape personalization service
and WebMail.
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.
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Additional information on Netscape Communications Corporation is
available on the Internet at http://home.netscape.com, by sending email
to info@netscape.com, or by calling corporate sales at 650/937-2555.
Netscape, Netscape Navigator, Netscape Certificate Server, Netscape ONE,
SuiteSpot and the Netscape N and Ship’s Wheel logos are registered
trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation in the United States
and other countries. Other Netscape logos, product names, and service
names are also trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation, which
may be registered in other countries. Other product and brand names are
trademarks of their respective owners.
Except for historical information, all of the expectations and
assumptions contained in the foregoing are forward-looking statements
involving risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking
statements, include, but are not limited to, the competitive environment
for Internet telephony, changes of rates of all related telco. rates and
services, legislation that may affect the Internet telephony industry,
IDTs ability to operate the services described on a large scale
commercial level. For additional information regarding these and other
risks associated with the company’s business refer to the company’s
reports filed with the SEC.