The Big Bang moment, marked by the IPO of Netscape Communications, marked the beginning of the internet’s early days. Founded in 1994 by James H. Clark and Marc Andreessen, Netscape was a Silicon Valley startup that became a significant player in the online world. The company’s Navigator browser, which became a popular gateway to the early web, was a significant success. However, the IPO also attracted the attention of Microsoft, which had been slow to recognize the web’s potential. Microsoft introduced its own web browser, Internet Explorer 1.0, in August 1995, which eventually surpassed Netscape’s version. This led to the “browser wars,” with Microsoft bundling Explorer with its Windows operating system. The government and several states sued Microsoft, accusing them of misusing its power to develop a chokehold on the browser software needed to access the Internet. Antitrust litigation failed to save Netscape, and its once-overwhelming share of the browser market dwindled under Microsoft’s pressure. In 1998, Netscape was acquired by AOL.com, ending its meteoric rise and decay as an independent company. Netscape’s IPO signaled the potential for great wealth to be made online and predicted a period of sweeping transformation online.
Netscape commemorates the internet’s Big Bang 30 years later. HoangMySpa 162
