Netscape Browser is the name of a proprietary Windows web browser published by AOL, but developed by Mercurial Communications. It is the eighth major release in name of the Netscape series of browsers, originally produced by the defunct Netscape Communications Corporation.
While Netscape Browser's version numbers start at 8, it is based on Mozilla Firefox, whereas Netscape 6 and 7 were based on Mozilla Application Suite, itself a complete rewrite of the codebase developed in versions 1 through 4 - Netscape Navigator and Netscape Communicator. As with other recent versions, it incorporates support for AOL Instant Messenger, and other AOL-related features.
The Netscape Browser series was succeeded by Netscape Navigator 9. However, on December 28, 2007, Netscape developers announced that AOL would discontinue the web browser on February 1, 2008.
Read more about Netscape Browser: History and Development, Features, Criticism, Footnotes