Netscape Says 25 Million Use Its New Browser

Netscape Communications Corp. said the number of users of its Netscape Communicator software has topped 25 million since the product shipped in June. Netscape pioneered the commercial use of a browser with its Netscape Navigator software, which enables users to access the World Wide Web. The Mountain View-based company also said that over the last 12 months it has licensed its SuiteSpot server software, used to build and manage Web sites, to companies representing more than 4 million individual users. Along with more than 2.4 million individuals who use messaging based on Netscape products through Internet service providers, the company said, its server products now are linked to more than 6.5 million individuals. Netscape said it had aggregated October monthly data from heavily trafficked Web sites, including Excite Inc., Yahoo Inc. and Infoseek Corp., which it said gave its browser a 67% market share. Netscape shares closed down 94 cents at $27.56 on Nasdaq.