Sun Microsystems Inc and America Online Inc are working together on four web browsers as part of their development and marketing agreement according to Sun’s most recent SEC filing. The AOL distributed Communicator client is the evolution of the Netscape browser and will encompass all of the functionality of the other three. There will be modified versions for third party and OEM markets.
‘New Browser’ is the Internet Explorer killer and will include a slew of new functionality that the companies do not want to reveal. Pre-built access to portals, including NetCenter, is one feature. AOL is leading the browser projects though Sun can offer modifications to New Browser and the OEM and third party cuts of Communicator. Netscape SVP John Paul leads the AOL browser team.
AOL says it is considering whether to Java runtime environment that ships with Communicator all of the browsers interfaces (public and private) including NSHTML.DLL which sounds distinctly Mozilla-esque. AOL says it will evaluate replacing the IE-based browser that its classic online service uses with New Browser as far as its contract allows, and will use New Browser for its other brands including ICQ and CompuServe, although it says it doesn’t have any current plans to do so.
