Death to Netscape/Mozilla

[Topcontender]

The death knell is sounding for the Netscape browser, industry observers said, following America Online's decision Tuesday to lay off about 50 Netscape software developers and end development work on the Mozilla browser technology.


"I would not say the patient is dead, but certainly it is more zombie-like. I don't see a new version of the Netscape browser coming out anytime soon," said Jonathan Gaw, research manager at market researcher IDC in Mountain View, California.


Geoff Johnston, vice president for StatMarket, a division of San Diego-based Web tracking company WebSideStory, agreed. "It sounds like AOL is really throwing in the towel. I think we have seen our last version of Netscape," he said.


AOL spokesperson Andrew Weinstein denied that the final hour has come for the Netscape browser. "We will continue to support the Netscape browser and Netscape remains a part of our multibrand strategy," he said.

--------------------------------------------------------
Ahh Bill Gates wins again

[CFF]

Someone remind me again how much AOL/Time-Warner paid when they bought Netscape? Oh yes - here it is: Nov 1998: AOL to pay 4.2 Billion (that's US greenbacks) for Netscape.

Henrik: What do shareholders in the European markets do when a public company announces writedowns of that magnitude ?

CFF

[Henrik]

CFF said:

Someone remind me again how much AOL/Time-Warner paid when they bought Netscape? Oh yes - here it is: Nov 1998: AOL to pay 4.2 Billion (that's US greenbacks) for Netscape.

Henrik: What do shareholders in the European markets do when a public company announces writedowns of that magnitude ?

CFF

Not much it would seem. Let's have a look at how much European telephone companies paid for 3g mobile phone licenses a few years back. Many basically paid billions and billions for air, air that they are unable to even begin exploiting.

Oh the joys of idiotic management!