“Mozilla, the open-source Web browser project upon which
Netscape Communications (now a subsidiary of America Online) is
building Communicator 5.0, has so far gotten a pretty bad rap in
the press. Being a long-time follower and advocate of the project,
I am still unclear how this could be the case. After all,
Mozilla is now in alpha, with beta status for Mozilla to follow
hopefully by March. And consider a few of Mozilla’s coolest
features….”
“So where’s the failure?”
“Once upon a time, about 4 years ago now, Netscape’s Navigator
browser had over 80 percent of the Web browser market. As is
well-known by now, the one company that could change this,
Microsoft, has since put forth every conceivable effort to make
sure Navigator lost its monstrous market lead – and won. Netscape
now has less than half of the Web browser market, and press hounds
everywhere are declaring Mozilla DOA. Even if Communicator 5.0
comes out, they say, it’s too late. But is it?”
“Perhaps, if one deems anything less than Netscape regaining its
former 80-plus market share as failure, one could consider Mozilla
doomed. But is that a realistic expectation? Can, or rather should,
any one company own 80 percent of any market? Microsoft is proof
enough that companies that are allowed to dominate one market for
too long can and will turn cancerous, driving that market while
simultaneously snuffing competition.”
[ Note: This is a lengthly three part article…so don’t
forget to click on “Next” at the bottom of the first and second
pages. lt-ed. ]