Netscape Communications Ships Release 1.0 of Netscape Navigator and Netscape Servers

Mountain View, Calif. (December 15, 1994) -- Netscape Communications Corporation today announced the availability of the 1.0 versions of its Netscape Navigator(TM) and Netsite(TM) server line, including the Netsite Commerce Server(TM) with integrated security. The availability of these open software products, announced in September, enables Netscape Communications to offer the first complete, secure client/server software system for conducting commerce and exchanging information via the Internet and private TCP/IP networks.

Netscape Communications also announced today that it is setting the single-user price of its Netscape Navigator for commercial use at $39. The pricing -- which includes a 90-day warranty, 90-day online or phone support, and diskette or CD -- makes it readily affordable for commercial users, giving the largest potential number of users access to commercial strength, supported technology. Netscape Navigator 1.0 is available for free downloading on the Internet for academic and non-profit use, as well as for free evaluation purposes.

The Netsite server line includes the Netsite Commerce Server with integrated security as well as the Netsite Communications Server(TM). The Netsite Commerce Server, incorporating Netscape Communications' Secure Sockets Layer(TM) (SSL) based on RSA Data Security technology, is the first secure server software available for the Internet. When paired with Netscape Navigator or other Internet browsers supporting SSL, the Netsite Commerce Server lets users take advantage of such commercial services as online publications, financial services and interactive shopping.

"The availability of Netscape Navigator and the Netsite server line will contribute to the continued dramatic growth in Internet usage by making the net a powerful channel for conducting commerce," said Marc Andreessen, vice president of technology at Netscape Communications. "With this first secure open software system capable of handling sensitive information and commercial transactions, the Internet is now open for business."

Compatible with other HTTP-based browsers and servers, Netscape Navigator and Netsite servers bring secure communications, performance and point-and-click simplicity to companies and individuals who want to create or access information services on global networks. The products offer easy-to-use interfaces for serving and accessing hypermedia information on the net, including formatted text, graphics, audio, and video.

The Netsite Commerce Server and Netsite Communications Server deliver power, efficiency, and ease of configuration and maintenance to organizations, publishers, and information providers who want to create an Internet presence. The Commerce Server adds SSL security technology which provides encryption for creating a secure channel to prevent others on the network from tapping into the transaction, and authentication for verifying the legitimacy of the server. Both servers are based on the open industry-standard HTTP protocol and are available for major UNIX platforms.

Available for all popular desktop environments, Netscape Navigator is a powerful and secure commercial navigator for the Internet, offering point-and-click network navigation. It is optimized to run smoothly over 14.4 kilobit/second modems as well as higher bandwidth lines, delivering performance as much as ten times that of other network browsers. Netscape Navigator provides a common feature set and graphical user interface across computers running the Microsoft Windows, Macintosh, or X Window System operating environments.

Netscape Navigator for free evaluation, academic or non-profit use can be obtained via anonymous FTP from ftp.netscape.com. Free evaluation use allows individuals to use the software for the purpose of determining whether they want to purchase an ongoing software license. Academic and non-profit use means that students, faculty and staff of educational institutions and employees of non-profit organizations have unlimited free use of the software. Educational institutions and non-profit organizations can also obtain a license free of charge to redistribute Netscape Navigator to these individuals. Organizations or individuals wishing to use Netscape Navigator for commercial purposes can purchase supported, licensed copies of Netscape Navigator directly from Netscape Communications. Pricing starts at $39 for a single user license, and volume discounts are available for right-to-copy licenses for multiple users.

Also available direct from Netscape Communications, the Netsite Communications Server is $1,495 and the Netsite Commerce Server is $5,000.

Netscape Communications Corporation is a premier provider of open software to enable people and companies to exchange information and conduct commerce over the Internet and other global networks. The company was founded in April 1994 by Dr. James H. Clark, founder of Silicon Graphics, Inc., a Fortune 500 computer systems company; and Marc Andreessen, creator of the NCSA Mosaic research prototype for the Internet. Privately held, Netscape Communications Corporation is based in Mountain View, California.

Netscape Communications, the Netscape Communications logo, Netscape, Netscape Commerce Server, Netscape Communications Server, Netscape Proxy Server and Netscape News Server are trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation. NCSA Mosaic is a trademark of the University of Illinois. All other product names are trademarks of their respective companies.