FRAMINGHAM (09-29-95) - Netscape Communications Corp. has begun a pilgrimage toward the information systems enterprise with a series of products expected to carry the company beyond its end-user-oriented roots.
To play in the big leagues, the Mountain View, Calif.-based Internet software maker must convince corporate IS managers that the as-yet- unprofitable company will get there in years to come. But a recent handful of well-publicized security flaws in Netscape's products isn't exactly soothing potential customers worried about whether the on-line world is safe for business.
"This kind of thing could scare people about the Internet," said Michael Karlin, president of Security First Network Bank, an Atlanta-based bank created to conduct business solely over the Internet starting next month.
"Netscape is going through some growing pains, most definitely," said Scott Randall, general manager at NECX Direct, a Peabody, Mass.-based on- line vendor of computer hardware and software. NECX uses Netscape World Wide Web servers.
"But I don't doubt they'll pull through," Randall said, adding that the company's product plans show promise.
Indeed, 1996 is expected to be a key year for Netscape. Its blueprints include a string of software announcements designed to appeal to IS groups looking to build internal Webs, or so-called intranets.
Other plans up Netscape's sleeve include the pending acquisition of Collabra Software Inc. The deal, due to close by February, would provide Netscape with workgroup and electronic-mail features to pit against groupware leader Notes.
In addition, a strong partnership with Sun Microsystems Inc. gives Netscape clout. Sun's Java programming language is the basis for some of Netscape's forthcoming Web development tools. And Navigator 2.0, an upgrade to Netscape's browser that is now in beta testing, supports Java.
Security problems, meanwhile, may start to dog Netscape. In the past two months, hackers have uncovered at least three flaws in the encryption technology used in Netscape products that pose security risks to users.
To its credit, Netscape has handled the glitches openly, with explanatory information and fixes promptly posted to its Web site, Karlin said.
So far, business hasn't slowed, said Hank Nothaft, chief executive officer of Concentric Research Corp., an Internet service provider that resells Netscape software.
[Copyright 1995 Computerworld (US), International Data Group Inc. All rights reserved.]