In practice, Netscape is turning to the community who builds Linux, arguably one of the best Unix and Apache, the most popular Web server on the Internet, for the development of Communicator. It does not prevent Netscape from selling a professional version of Communicator. Netscape could win on three main fronts. Firstly they can save on the development of their most visible, but least profitable, product. Secondly this move will no doubt make them even more popular with programmers and engineers.
Communicator is already the favorite browser in that market.
Lastly, Netscape hopes to gain share in the application market. Many successful applications like Intuit Quicken, AOL and Homesite have integrated Internet Explorer. None is using Communicator because it currently lacks the hooks which makes this integration possible. By offering source code, Netscape could threaten Microsoft domination of that market. If their strategy succeeds, expect a flood of Communicator-based applications and customized versions of Communicator.