When AOL acquired our start-up in late 1999, I would share former Netscape (now AOL) HR and IT support based in Paris with ICQ and Netscape offices in Europe, Middle East and Asia.

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It concluded there were few barriers to entry to this market-- which was at one time dominated by Netscape, now owned by AOL Time Warner (nyse: AOL - news - people)--so that no one could be said to monopolize it.

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AOL's consumer-biased site or on Netscape's more business-oriented Netcenter.

ECONOMIST: Internet riders

In mid-1998 when Virginia-headquartered AOL bought Israel-based ICQ, it was the first outside-United States acquisition by AOL. In late 1998 Netscape would come into the AOL fold with several overseas offices.

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Sun's applications server strategy became somewhat hazy after the acquisition, when, as a spin-off of America Online's (AOL)purchase of Netscape Communications, Sun acquired Netscape's application server software.

CNN: Sun unveils app server strategy

One reason AOL bought Netscape was for the latter's expertise in directory and e-commerce technologies.

CNN: Sun/Netscape Alliance brings directory ties

In the mid-1990s, that would change, as browsers, such as Netscape (which AOL ultimately bought, then essentially killed) and Internet Explorer, let us move freely about the Web.

MSN: AOL: You've got irrelevancy?

Before serving in a variety of executive roles at Netscape, AOL and Shutterfly, Grey scouted for the Chicago White Sox in the mid-1990s.

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Its main rival, Netscape, went on to become a unit of AOL Time Warner (nyse: AOL - news - people ) and though still popular, is mostly consigned to second-place status among Web browsers.

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