Netscape Communications released Tuneup for Internet Explorer on Friday, a new utility that makes Netscape's Netcenter the default page on rival Microsoft's browser.
"It extends our market," said Ken Hickman, Netscape's Netcenter program manager. "It really makes sense for Netscape to get the other browser's [users] out there to come and use Netcenter."
Explorer users who download and install the utility will connect to many of Netcenter's services, such as its search services, personalized Web pages, and email.
Netscape portrayed the move as a logical step in its Project Turbo -- an effort to make Netcenter the fastest-growing Internet portal, serving as a jumping-off point for those seeking information on the Web.
Tuneup adds the Smart Browsing services to Explorer 4.0 and 5.0 (the latter was just released in a public beta version). These services include the Internet Keywords and What's Related features, both of which are designed to help browsers retrieve and find information on the Web faster.
And the utility may drive Explorer users toward the services of the My Netscape personalized directory, as well as Netscape WebMail, Search, Contact, and Member Directory.
"I think that it's a fine thing for Netscape to open up the proprietary features of their portal to IE users," said Microsoft's Rob Bennett, manager for Microsoft's Internet client group. "In fact, it's precisely because of IE's open architecture that they are able to do this."
He said Microsoft hasn't considered developing similar software for Navigator, and that it may not even be possible. "They seem to be pretty hardwired to Netcenter, and I don't think you could replace [search services and information] providers the same way you can with IE."
Netscape's move is a sign that the company may be more interested in inviting Explorer traffic to its portal business than trying to win back Microsoft's swelling browser market share. Netscape demurred.
"It's very similar to Microsoft developing Office [business productivity applications] for the Macintosh," Hickman said. "It's just a way to extend your market share." He said it is an opportunity to display the Netscape brand in Explorer, since Netcenter pages bear the Netscape logo.
"I think it's very nicely pragmatic and a good idea," said Web developer and publisher Dave Winer. "Part of their business is being a Web site, and the other part is being a browser company.... That's how the eyeball game works in software."
When Microsoft released the beta version of IE 5.0 on Tuesday, it detailed plans for its own Smart Browsing-esque features. But they aren't scheduled to be available in the software until the final release, set to happen some time in the first quarter of 1999.
