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Posted at 2:20 PM PT, Nov 10, 1998
Netscape on Tuesday took the wraps off of its next-generation technology -- code-named NGT -- designed to facilitate the development of smaller, faster, and more modular applications for multiple computing platforms and devices.

NGT will be the foundation for any and all Netscape client products after Communicator 4.5, according to the company.

At the core of NGT is a browser layout engine that interprets data from Internet sites and displays the content on a user's screen much quicker than current browser products, according to Chris Saito, director of client product marketing at Netscape.

According to Saito, NGT will have four major benefits for users: extensive support for standards including HTML 4.0, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS1 and CSS2), Document Object Model (DOM), Resource Description Framework (RDF), and Extensible Markup Language (XML); modularity and a small footprint for easy download and install in multiple environments including handheld devices; table layout speed four to five times faster than that of Communicator 4.5 and competitive products; and open-source code that was developed in conjunction with Mozilla.org.

One analyst said NGT is important in keeping Netscape in the browser game with Microsoft. In addition to the broad standards support, the open source angle is also a strong competitive point, according to Michael Goulde, an analyst at the Patricia Seybold Group, in Boston. "Can open source produce better/faster/more functional code than Microsoft programmers? This will be an important test," Goulde said.

NGT will also enable users to build platform-independent application user interfaces using Web standards.

Netscape plans to release more specific details regarding product plans for NGT before the end of the year.

Developers can access source code for NGT technologies and contribute to its direction, development, and testing via the Mozilla.org Web site.

Netscape Communications Corp., in Mountain View, Calif., can be reached at www.netscape.com.

Emily Fitzloff is an InfoWorld senior writer.