America Online, Inc., and Nokia are developing and marketing a Netscape-branded version of Nokia's WAP microbrowser, with AOL enhanced features, for use across a wide variety of mobile communications devices. Under the multi-year agreement, AOL will work with the Nokia technology to bring to the market enhanced microbrowser technology and to promote wireless standards, including WAP.

The agreement between Nokia and AOL marks the first extension of the Netscape brand to the microbrowser market. It supports America Online's AOL Anywhere strategy, which makes the Dulles, Va.-based Internet giant's brands and features available to online consumers through a range of devices beyond the PC. Nokia currently licenses its WAP browser source code to manufacturers, chip set vendors, service providers and operating system suppliers.

"This agreement is a key component of our wireless strategy. WAP is the most widely adopted wireless standard in the world among carriers and handset manufacturers and it makes sense for us to work to support that standard," said Dennis Patrick, president of AOL Wireless. "We're delighted to work with a leader like Nokia. Licensing their WAP browser source code allows us to quickly enter the WAP market with an established technology."

Added Pertti Lounamaa, vice president of Nokia, "AOL is an important customer for our WAP browser source code. They are a pioneer and clear leader in providing consumer services in the fixed Internet environment through Netscape. We are pleased that AOL's first forays into wireless microbrowser services are based on open global standards and our tested technology."

America Online, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL Time Warner Inc. and is located on the Web at http://www.aol.com. The Finnish-based Nokia is a manufacturer of mobile phones and a supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks.