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www.presence.impressive By initially distributing its World Wide Web browser, Navigator, free of charge over the Internet, Netscape has become a paramount feature of the Web. In addition to its browser and portal site, the company makes related software products that enable companies to use the Web for commercial purposes, as well as software that integrates Web browsing with other applications. Netscape has also been successful with server software for corporate intranets - networks that connect computers within an individual company. Netscape clients have included Chrysler, Lockheed Martin, and Prudential Securities. The company also has a contract with five regional Bell companies to make the default browser for their new Internet services. And in November 1998, the company announced that it would be acquired by America Online for $4.2 billion. That deal, which also involves Sun Microsystems, will not only give the combined company more traffic and "eyeballs," but will take advantage of AOL's media expertise, Netscape's software expertise, and Sun's hardware and support services to move aggressively into what is expected to be the extremely lucrative market of providing e-commerce capabilities and service to businesses. History Netscape's meteoric rise in the technology world began when Marc Andreessen played a key role in developing Mosaic, an Internet software program, at the University of Illinois-Champaign. Andreessen co-founded Mosaic Communications in 1994, but when the University claimed the right to the software's license, Andreessen changed the company's name to Netscape. After a few years of uncontested industry dominance by Netscape, Microsoft introduced its own free Internet browser, Explorer. Netscape has done battle with Microsoft ever since, managing, however, to keep an edge in the area of Internet software. The company has entered into agreements with other technology companies, such as Sun Microsystems, Oracle, and IBM, to integrate its software into other packages and servers. One of the hottest companies of the 1990s, Netscape is currently developing new software that will transform the Web into an even more exciting - and profitable - medium, and is busy adding features to its own web site on the Internet, transforming it into an Internet "portal" that Web users can keep as their homepage. Battles with Microsoft Netscape's major foe? Microsoft - which has bundled a competing web browser, Internet Explorer, with its operating systems software in order to gain control of the Internet market just as it has software operating systems. By some accounts, Microsoft has already seized up to 50 percent of Netscape's share by giving away its web browser. And in fact, Netscape's income and stock price have plummeted. However, Microsoft's strategy has become the subject of a Department of Justice antitrust suit, which charges that Microsoft is unfairly using its dominance of the PC software market to attempt to dominate a new market. Gates and Microsoft contend that Internet Explorer is an integral part of its Windows software, though Netscape offers uninstalling software on its own web site, and notes that getting rid of Explorer has no effect on Windows. Whether or not the allegations are true, one thing remains clear: Microsoft has clearly taken a huge bite out of Netscape's browser dominance. Netscape, which once controlled 90 percent of the market, has seen its share drop to 54.6 percent in 1996, and to 50.5 percent in 1997. In contrast, Microsoft's Internet Explorer rose from 16.4 to 22.8 percent in the same period. In 1998, Netscape was forced to admit defeat. Though the browser had previously represented its biggest source of revenue, it was forced to begin giving it away for free. Shifting gears As a result, Netscape is now shifting gears and focusing on selling software to businesses and beefing up its booming Netcenter Web Site. In 1998, Netscape announced a partnership with Excite to create a search service on Netcenter, which acts as a "portal," the first site consumers see when they access the Web. The company hopes to leverage its 70 million software users into "the world's biggest media network." Netscape also inked a $15-20 million deal with Citibank to build the financial corporation's electronic commerce infrastructure. Such promising developments led Netscape in August 1998 to report a small profit for the second quarter, surprising many analysts who had watched the company post repeated quarterly losses, including a total loss of $44.7 million in 1997. In November 1998, however, Netscape abruptly folded its cards. America Online, the middlebrow, mass-market Internet service provider purchased the once-proud company for $4.2 billion of its stock, with a side licensing deal with Sun Microsystems for Netscape's e-commerce software.
Netscape's recruitment site, located at home.netscape.com/comprod/about_netscape/hr/jobs/jobs.html, describes current openings, including specific requirements and responsibilities. Each position lists a job reference number, which applicants should include with their resumes. Each department has a separate e-mail address for applicants to use when e-mailing their resumes; Netscape accepts faxed resumes as well. The company recruits computer science students from engineering programs. The employment web page also describes the company's college recruitment schedule. Netscape also prefers MBAs who have some computer or technical experience. In addition to technical savvy, Netscape looks for lots of personality in its new hires: the official title of the head of recruiting is "Director of Bringing in the Cool People." The interview process usually begins with a screening conversation by phone. After that, Netscape conducts two or more rounds of face-to-face interviews. Although the interviewers normally dress very informally, the interviewees often (and should) wear suits. Questions are highly dependent on which department one is applying to. On the whole, interview questions are very practical. For instance, marketing applicants are asked simple questions like, "give an example of well-marketed software and why it was successful." However, says one insider, "we don't hire experience as much as we value smart people looking for a challenge." It is not believed that America Online's acquisition of Netscape will occasion layoffs (except in certain areas, such as the Navigator browser). In fact,AOL CEO Steve Case has offered all 2300 Netscape employees bonus equal to a month's salary if they stay on through the merger.
Long hours but loving it Netscape employees work "unending days," and let their "work take over their lives," but some "love every minute of it." They enjoy the "excitement" of a company "on the constant cusp of technological innovation" and like the "underdog cachet" of working for "David in the shadow of Microsoft's Goliath." "Special perks are that you get the weekend off sometimes!" jokes one insider. Still, as one employee says: "This is a fascinating company. Netscape deals with unprecedented challenges in a furiously changing industry." Fast-paced, no excuses Recently hired employees at this "awesome company" comment that they have been encouraged to "dive in immediately" and "quickly acquire significant responsibilities." "The company is driving, demanding, exhausting, but it is also rewarding, nurturing and fulfilling," says one insider. "A company of extremes." Because of Netscape's recent difficulties, however, all is not rosy in Mountain View: Bill Gates as Goliath casts a cold shadow. "The current atmosphere is subdued but optimistic. Otherwise, Netscape has been the best company I have worked at." "Frankly, if there were no Microsoft in the world, this would undoubtedly be the most popular place of employment for anyone beginning in the software field," says another glum Netscaper. "But there is a Microsoft." Many employees characterize Netscape as "busy," "stressful," and a "a very fast-paced company, a very demanding place - no excuses." And, as the recent layoffs indicate, because of competitive pressures, Netscape "is definitely assuming some of the characteristics of larger companies." Diverse as you'd expect A key component of what employees call a "team" atmosphere at Netscape is a "casual, informal" corporate culture that encourages collegiality. "It feels like being a graduate student," one Netscape insider says, pointing to the games of ping-pong, table hockey, and football that he plays near his cubicle. Another had a slightly different take: "Walking around Netscape is like bar-hopping in the city." The company is reportedly very diverse at the lower and middle-management levels, with only "about 20 percent male WASPs." "Netscape is a wonderful collection of eclectic personalities," says another. According to one employee, "women and minorities are treated equally, since, after all, women and minorities are actually the majority at Netscape." However, senior management is "very much white male - not unusual, but not expected," according to one insider. As far as Netscape's dress code is concerned, several employees quoted CEO James Barksdale, saying that Netscape requires its hires to "wear something." Summing it up, one Product Manager says: "It's a very cool place to work. Smart folks, excellent pay, very flexible hours, no dress code pressures, a very diverse mixture of folks."
Human Resources
Netscape Navigator Client Software;Netscape Navigator Gold, LAN Edition, and Personal Edition (Internet browsers);Netscape Power Pack (add-on Internet software);Netscape Catalog Server (directory builder);Netscape Commerce Server (e-commerce);Netscape Communications Server (publishing software);Netscape Mail Server (e-mail software);Netscape News Server (chat room software);Commercial Applications;Development Tools
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