The new company will try to increase awareness and popularity of simplified computing devices, like Net PCs. NCI products will include low-cost hardware and software network computing solutions. Netscape stock rose and Oracle stock declined in response to the announcement. The Set WebTV, leading provider of Internet access set-top boxes, is now facing stiff competition. AIM is expected to unveil WebPassport System in August.
Users now have the choice whether to pay for a box and keep monthly costs down.
Collaborative Web Development Tools Web applications are permeating corporate America. StoryServer 2.2 creates templates into which content can be inserted, without concern for design and interactivity issues. TeamSite is a workflow system that enables multiple users to build sites in a modular fashion, then compile the results to create a final product. Further consolidation in the Internet access industry is evident as Uunet and BBN continue to buy out smaller ISPs and partner with large providers. To better target medium and large companies, ISPs are spending huge dollars to increase network performance, at the expense of smaller ISPs who can't afford to pass along the resulting cost increases.