In an attempt to attract rival Internet Explorer users,
Netscape Communications Corp. today
announced ‘Netscape TuneUp for IE,’ a software add-on to Microsoft IE and
Windows software.
The software is designed to allow users of Microsoft’s browser to access
Netscape’s Smart Browser application, as well as integrated access to its
Netcenter services such as My Netscape, WebMail, SmartUpdate, Search,
Contact and Member Directory.
Netscape said the add-on is a small ActiveX control (less than 100k) that
works with Internet Explorer 4.0 or later versions, and is available via
free download.
The announcement is part of Netscape’s Project Turbo, a strategy to promote
its Netcenter portal. Part of that plan is to lure some of its rival’s
users to take advantage of Netscape services. The company released many of
these new services as part of its Communicator 4.5 suite, currently in beta
testing.
“Netscape is excited by this opportunity to bring the power of portal
integration to IE users,” said Mike Homer, executive vice president and
general manager of Netscape’s Netcenter division.
“We have received a tremendous response from our customers about the
integration of Smart Browsing, My Netscape, Netscape Search and Netscape
Member Directory in
Netscape Communicator 4.5. Now we are extending those benefits to IE users so
that even more of the Internet community can take advantage of the easiest way
to find the online information they need.”
The company said that TuneUp for IE is scheduled to be released before
the end of October, and will
be downloadable from Netcenter
Download.
