Fujitsu Ltd has stopped pre-installing Netscape Communication Corp’s browser on its computers sold in Japan, now that Netscape no longer provides customer support for the software – making Microsoft Corp’s Internet Explorer the only browser that Fujitsu pre-installs on its desktops and laptops. Netscape dropped customer support after deciding in January to give away its browser for free. And although Netscape still offers large software bundles to organizations under its Unlimited Distribution Agreement, Fujitsu is not interested without support. Netscape claimed it started giving Navigator away free to concentrate on developing software for sharing information over networks. But faced with fourth quarter losses, Netscape saw sales of its client software fall dramatically under intense competition from Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, which is bundled with Windows 95, or given away free (CI No 3,332). According to figures recently published by International Data Corp, Netscape still leads the browser market, but Microsoft is gaining fast (CI No 3,439). The research revealed Navigator commanded 50.5% of the market in 1997, a fall from 54.6% in 1996, while Explorer rose to 22.8% from 16.4% in the same period. Prior to Netscape’s decision, Fujitsu had a policy of pre-installing Netscape and Microsoft browsers. It is not yet known whether Fujitsu will stop using Navigator on machines outside of Japan.
