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 /PRNewswire/
-- Netscape Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: NSCP) and IDT's (Nasdaq: IDTC)
Net2Phone subsidiary today announced a multi-year global distribution
agreement under which Net2Phone's PC-to-phone service will be exclusively
bundled with Netscape's 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 Netscape's
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
Netscape's 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 Netscape's 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 Netscape's 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 of 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 IDT's 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. Net2Phone's
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 IDT's Internet telephony
services, please visit http://www.net2phone.com.
Netscape Netcenter is Netscape's 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.
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.
NOTE: 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, IDT's 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.
SOURCE Netscape Communications Corporation
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CONTACT:
Nathan Tyler of Netscape Communications
Corp., 650-937-4927; or Sarah Hofstetter, Public Relations,
201-928-2882, or Janine Kutliroff, Investor Relations,
201-928-4391, both of IDT
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