(29 December 2007 5:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Time Warner Inc.'s AOL Internet unit will end its support for the Netscape web browser as it has failed to stand firm against its archrival Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer (IE) and Mozilla's Firefox.

AOL will discontinue development and support for Netscape effective 1 February 2008.

AOL took over Netscape Navigator in acquisition of Netscape Communications in 1999 despite several industry experts declaring that Netscape browser is dead.

Now, accepting the bitter fact that the browser can never regain market share from Internet Explorer, AOL has decided to cease its long effort to revive Netscape.

According to fresh data from Internet metrics firm Net Applications, as of November 2007, IE commanded 77.35 per cent of the browser market, while Firefox and Netscape accounted for 16.01 per cent and 0.6 per cent, respectively.

AOL is one of the largest online information service with access to the Internet, e-mail, chat rooms and a variety of databases and services.

Netscape browser was developed by a team of former University of Illinois students.