SmartUpdate To Include Software Downloads and Installation From More Than 22 Companies Including Macromedia, 3M, Atrieva Corporation;
Service Includes Key Email Notification Feature
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Netscape Communications
Corporation (Nasdaq: NSCPClick the link for more information.) today announced a significant
expansion to its Netscape SmartUpdate service on the Netscape Netcenter portal
site. Netscape signed agreements with more than 22 leading companies to make
their products available free-of-charge for automatic download from the
SmartUpdate service. SmartUpdate, part of Netscape's Computing & Internet channel, is a personalized
notification and updating service that optimizes a users Internet experience by
providing the latest audio, video and communications components and add-ons for
Netscape Communicator client software. Over the last seven months, SmartUpdate
has successfully generated more than three and a half million downloads. In
addition to the new partners, SmartUpdate will include a valuable feature for
millions Netscape Netcenter members to receive automatic email notification of
new software availability.
"SmartUpdate has proved to be a valuable tool for Netcenter members to
keep their Netscape Communicator and Navigator client software current, so we
are expanding the service to include a larger, more diversified selection of
leading-edge software," said Mike Homer, executive vice president and
general manager of Netscape's Netcenter Division." "We will continue
to augment SmartUpdate with new partners and key features, such as automatic
email notification, providing members with the software and tools they need to
keep their Internet software up-to-date. As one of the largest distributor of
software on the Internet, we believe the SmartUpdate program serves as model
for a new way of dispersing software on the Internet."
Effective June 30, the following software products will be available by
visiting SmartUpdate on the Netcenter site.
3M, Post-it(R) Software Notes; Atrieva, Netscape Online Backup; Blaxxun, Blaxxun CCPro; Blue Squirrel, LinkSync; Bonzi,
Voice E-mail; CompassWare, Infomagnet; Corel, CMXViewer; Digital
Bitcasting, NetToob Stream; Generic Logic, GLGToolkit; IDT, Net2Phone; Intervu,
EyeQ; LiveUpdate, Crescendo Player; Macromedia, Shockwave Flash and Shockwave
Director; MBED, Mbed Plug- in; NetJumper, NetJumper 98; NetNanny, NetNanny;
Parable, ThingViewer; Pegasus, ImagN'; Software Builders, NetZip; Sseyo, Koan
Plug-in; SuperPlanet, Music Genie; VDONet, ClubVDO Player; and Xtratek,
Billboard 97.
Email notification, improved download performance and a streamlined
registration process will also be introduced with this generation of the
SmartUpdate service. SmartUpdate will automatically notify registered Netcenter
users through email, of updates to software they have previously downloaded and
installed using the service. The SmartUpdate service itself has been revamped
to speed the download process with one-click installation, improve the user
experience and to simplify the registration steps.
Visitors to the SmartUpdate site are asked to register with Netcenter, and to
answer a few questions about their PC. At that point, technology that is built
in to Netscape Communicator enables SmartUpdate to analyze a user's system and
offer the right components personalized by operating system, software version
and language. From that initial visit, SmartUpdate tracks plug-in downloads so
that future visits to the service can present the user with Communicator
upgrades or new software recommendations that are tailored to their individual needs
and interests.
"Macromedia's Shockwave Flash and Shockwave Director power the highest
quality vector graphics, animation, and rich multimedia on the web's most
compelling sites," said David Mendels, vice president and general manager
of graphics, Internet and multimedia authoring divisions at Macromedia.
"By streamlining the download process and automatically notifying users of
new releases, SmartUpdate provides an excellent service for millions of
Internet users and ensures that they can view the best of what the Web has to
offer."
"3M is very excited to be partnering with Netscape to bring the popular
Post-it(R)brand to more computer users than ever before. Smart Update gives
users the ability to easily customize their browsers so that they can now view
Post-it(R)Notes on the Web," said Dave Powell, Stationery and Office
Supplies Division Vice President. "Plus, our participation in Smart Update
will help direct consumers to Post-it(R)Software Notes, a tool that will make
it easy for them to organize, remind and communicate electronically."
In related announcements today, Netscape launched of the next generation of
Netscape Netcenter, called Netscape `Netcenter 2.0.' In addition, to the
enhancements to the SmartUpdate service, Netscape Netcenter 2.0 will include
the new My Netscape personalization service, a variety of leading consumer and
business channels ranging from Shopping to Computers & Internet as well as
several core services including WebMail, Member Directory, Software Download,
Search and the new My Netscape personalization service. Netscape also announced
today an innovative new concept, called Smart Browsing, which allows users to
find information anywhere on the Net quickly and easily.
Netscape Communications Corporation is a leading provider of open software and
services for linking people and information over enterprise networks and the
Internet. The company offers a full line of clients, servers, development
tools, commercial applications and professional services to create a complete
platform for next-generation, online applications. Traded on Nasdaq under the
symbol NSCP, Netscape Communications Corporation is based in Mountain View, California.
Additional information on Netscape Communications Corporation is available on
the Internet at http://home.netscape.com, by sending email to info@netscape.com
or by calling 650/937-2555 (corporations) or 650/937-3777 (individuals).
Netscape, Netscape Navigator, and the Netscape N logo are registered trademarks
of Netscape Communications Corporation in the United States and other
countries. Other Netscape logos, product names, and service names are also
trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation, which may registered in
other countries. Other product and brand names are trademarks of their
respective owners.
SOURCE Netscape Communications Corporation