America Online’s recent release of a new beta of its Mac OS X software, which employs Netscape’s Gecko browser technology instead of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, is catching the eyes of the mainstream media, as evidenced by these Reuters and c|net articles. Some theorize the move is a precursor to a bolder plan to employ Netscape technology in an upcoming release of its Windows software. AOL’s adoption of Internet Explorer years ago helped Microsoft win the browser war against Netscape, which AOL later acquired in 1998. Earlier this year, America Online released a new version of its CompuServe service that featured Netscape’s technology but maintained that its consideration to employ the technology across its products was not a jab at Microsoft, but an effort to deliver the best service to customers. If AOL does abandon Internet Explorer, Netscape’s browser market share will receive a tremendous boost.