Well it seems final: Microsoft Internet Explorer will be the proprietary browser for the 5 million (and growing) America Online users and the next version of Windows 95 will include easy access to the online service via a desktop folder. The good news for Netscape is that this affiliation won’t hit desktops for a few months. The bad news is Microsoft is going to also release a souped up Explorer just in time for the new operating system and the new AOL software.
They say that everyone gets 15 minutes of fame. I can hear the clocks in Mountain View now. Tick Tock. Tick Tock.
In other interesting news, competing web search engines Yahoo and Excite have applied for an Initial Public offering of their prospective stocks. I don’t quite think that they will do a Netscape but they they will definitely be good market indicators. If they make money, it’s because the web is making money.
Whatya think?