ogether in a single package that is user-friendly. The Navigator product also offers a platform for live online applications and interactive multimedia content, such as Java and frames. The Navigator products are client software; the company also markets server software which combines encryption features, graphical administration and high performance to facilitate communication and electronic commerce. Server products can be used to provide a high performance TCP/IP-based communication solution as well as to provide a platform for live on-line applications.
Netscape dominates the market in the navigator niche, but the market for software and services in this area (Internet, Web and intranets) is highly competitive and rapidly evolving. While Microsoft was not an initial competitor against Netscape, it has since refocused and is now targeting Netscape and Netscape products as Microsoft recognizes the importance, both short-term and long-term, of this market. Nonetheless, Netscape has created a strong position for itself here and is currently the dominant company.
The same cannot be said of the company's position across all of its product lines. In the server application market, for example, the company competes against well-entrenched Lotus and Microsoft, as well as recently announced products by Oracle. Here, the company's market position is not as strong as in the navigator realm.
While the Internet, Web and Intranet market is rapidly expanding, there is no single architecture which yet dominates, and no single company which is poised to present that architecture. The technology which serves this market is developing rapidly, and the competition which participates in this market is well-entrenched and well-financed (including Netscape). Although Netscape has seen success in this market, it cannot compare to the competition in terms of financial resources, particularly since its primary competitors compete not just i...