Netscape Affiliate to Bring Navigator Technology to TVs, Game Systems, Phones,
Network Computers and More; Nintendo, Sony, Sega, NEC, IBM and Oracle Back
Effort to Offer Software for Hundreds of Millions of Devices
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Netscape Communications Corporation
(Nasdaq: NSCP) today announced the formation of Navio Communications, Inc., an
independent Internet software company in which Netscape has a major equity
position. Navio will introduce the power of the Internet to millions of
people by delivering core, scalable software based on Netscape Navigator(TM)
technology for a wide variety of consumer and non-PC products such as
televisions, telephones, set-top boxes, game players, and the new breed of
network computers and information appliances designed for homes and
businesses.
Navio plans to extend Netscape's open standards-based Netscape Navigator
technology to all types of consumer and non-PC devices. Because Navio's
software will be based on Netscape's open environment, users will be able to
take advantage of their favorite online applications and content on both PC
and non-PC devices.
"Netscape has helped to pioneer the Internet as the world knows it today,
and we have a vision of what the Internet can become tomorrow," said Dr. Jim
Clark, chairman and co-founder of Netscape. "Navio will help us realize that
vision by extending Netscape's cross-platform Internet software to a potential
base of more than 500 million consumer and non-PC devices over the next five
years. The Internet already is transforming the way people work. After
today, it will transform the way people live."
Dr. Wei Yen is Navio's president and chief executive officer and a member
of the company's Board of Directors. Yen was previously senior vice president
of products and technologies at Silicon Graphics, Inc., where he oversaw all
product and software operations. Netscape chairman Jim Clark has also been
named chairman of Navio Communications.
"Navio's mission is to enrich the lives of people by delivering Internet
technology to the new universe of consumer and non-PC devices, including TVs,
game devices, network computers, phones and cars," said Yen. "The focus of the
Internet over the years is reflected in its popular suffixes: initially the
Internet was the domain of universities (.edu) and the government (.gov);
today it is the domain of businesses (.com); and tomorrow, it will be the
domain of individuals (.idv)."
To make the Internet relevant to people using consumer and non-PC devices,
Navio first will work to enhance existing Internet content by making it
viewable on consumer and non-PC devices. Navio then will spearhead the
evolution of consumer use of the Internet centered on non-PC devices. "Just
as Intranets and the Internet are integral to the way businesses work today, a
new aspect of the Internet which we call 'personal worlds' will have a
dramatic impact on the way people live tomorrow," Yen said.
The Internet extends the reach of individuals by providing them with
unprecedented worldwide access to data, people, services and entertainment.
"Navio will bring the Internet to consumers in forms that match their tastes,
allowing people to use their TVs, phones, video game boxes or other familiar
products to access the information, people, services and entertainment they
care about most," Yen said.
In a paper released today, Navio has published its vision for how consumer
devices accessing Internet-based software, services and entertainment will
create powerful personal worlds. This vision paper can be accessed by
visiting the Navio Communications Internet site at http://www.navio.com.
Technology Built on Open Internet Standards
Navio plans to optimize Netscape Navigator to make it smaller, modular,
scalable and easily integrated to accommodate the hardware constraints of
consumer and non-PC devices. Because Navio technology is based on Internet
standards and Netscape technology, existing Web sites and Web content are
compatible with consumer devices using Navio software.
"Today, Netscape Navigator has reached more than 40 million users on
traditional computer platforms. In the next five years, Navio and Netscape
together can bring the Netscape Navigator platform to potentially more than
500 million devices applicable to consumers and businesses," said Marc
Andreessen, senior vice president of technology and co-founder of Netscape.
"By working with Navio to extend our open standards-based software to this
wide range of devices, we will provide a unique opportunity for content and
applications developers to reach a customer base eager to take advantage of
the online world through devices they know and understand."
The Navio platform is hardware independent and is built on open Internet
standards and Netscape technology such as HTML, SSL (the Secure Sockets
Layer), POP3, TCP/IP, HTTP, SQL, IMAP4, NTTP, LDAP, SNMP, RTP/RTPC, IIOP,
JavaScript, Netscape LiveConnect(TM) and the Netscape Internet Foundation
Classes.
Navio Working With Consumer Electronics Leaders and Technology Companies
Navio is working with a wide variety of leading consumer electronics and
technology companies, including Sony, Nintendo, NEC, Sega, IBM, Oracle and
others to make its vision a reality.
"The Internet represents a widespread new medium to produce new forms of
entertainment," said Hiroshi Yamauchi, president of Nintendo Co., Ltd. "As
the leading provider of the world's best video game entertainment, Nintendo is
interested in the great potential of Navio technology."
"The merging of consumer electronics, the Internet and computer technology
will power the next wave of consumer products," said Mr.Tomoo Miyawaki,
president of NEC Home Electronics Inc. and senior vice president of NEC
Corporation. "Navio Communications, Inc. is a key partner of our Internet
strategy."
"IBM's future spans both business and consumer markets," said James
Firestone, general manager of IBM's Consumer Division. "By providing a
scalable consumer platform for the Internet, a leading company such as Navio
will help the entire industry better meet the expanding needs of consumers."
"This announcement represents further momentum for the trend toward
network computers, information appliances and other non-PC devices as gateways
to the Internet," said Jim Lynch, vice president of business development of
Network Computer, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oracle.
Navio Communications, Inc. develops and delivers Internet software for
consumer devices. Consumer products that contain Navio software bring the
world to people and personalize it for them. Navio Communications is
headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.
Netscape Communications Corporation is a premier provider of open software
for linking people and information over enterprise networks and the Internet.
The company offers a full line of clients, servers, development tools and
commercial applications to create a complete platform for next-generation,
live online applications. 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 415-937-2555 (corporate customers) or
415-937-3777 (individuals).
Netscape Communications, the Netscape Communications Corporation logo,
Netscape, Netscape Navigator, and Netscape LiveConnect are trademarks of
Netscape Communications Corporation. Navio, Navio Communications, the Navio
logo are trademarks of Navio Communications, Inc. All other product names are
trademarks of their respective companies.
SOURCE Netscape Communications Corporation
back to top
CONTACT: Jennifer O''Mahony of Netscape Communications Corporation, 415-937-3084 or jom@netscape.com; or Adam Stock of Navio Communications, Inc., 408-328-0630 or adam@navio.com
|