C is still important to a lot of companies, but long-term, I don't consider it of much value. I believe what Netscape is doing amounts to little more than a publicity stunt. Woodford added that Netscape's existing Java support was never what it was cracked up to be and that one of Netscape's key failures was its inability or refusal to fully support standard Java. Others lauded the move to give away the source code. Of their options, it's one of the more intelligent ones.
Browsers are their foot in the door of corporate America.
In its pursuit of systems integrators and an enterprise reputation, Netscape may also have to re-evaluate its relationship with Microsoft, which has been acrimonious for the most part. The game was to constantly up the ante to the point where Microsoft would stumble. They had two years in which they were in the lead, but you don't get forever to win. Netscape could never get its products stable and reliable enough for real-world users. It pains me to say that, because I don't like Microsoft.