A VIRTUAL MERGER

February 1999
		How will the merger of two of the largest Internet companies change the face of the Web? Two industry experts who differ on the agreement answer your questions.

Return to Forum Introduction What changes will the average computer users see? Will these mergers help or hinder competition? Will AOL be the death of Netscape? Why does AOL still distribute the Microsoft broswer with its software? Will this merger offer competition for Microsoft?

Marvin George of Sierra Vista, AZ asks: I believe that there may be slight change in the Web as Netscape lost the battle with Microsoft as the case in the anti trust suit has shown. I feel that AOL may not want to keep the independence of Netscape and they may want in their mold and the only will be Microsoft. The bottom line: is AOL going allow the freedom and will it allow new browsers to be produced by Netscape or not? Paul Gillian, editor of Computerworld, responds: I can't believe AOL would have bought Netscape if it did not intend to continue to develop and improve the browser. AOL will want to make sure that everyone who runs a Netscape browser opens first to a Web site owned by AOL. It can't do that if it cedes the market to Microsoft. It would be foolish for AOL not to polish the crown jewel of the Netscape treasure trove.   John C. Dvorak, hi tech writer, responds: I doubt it. Long term I expect to see Netscape disappear. Short term things will not change much as I outlined in a previous question.