Netscape Navigates to the Top in Browser Popularity Survey

Netscape Communications Corp.’s Internet browser is used by 38 million people, making it the most popular software of its kind, the company said Wednesday, citing an independent industry survey.

Users of Netscape’s Navigator include browsers of the Internet and so-called intranets, or corporate computer networks, according to a study from International Data Corp.

Netscape’s Navigator, released in December 1994, is more popular than other well-known software products, including Microsoft Corp.’s Word, Excel and Office programs and International Business Machines Corp.’s Lotus 1-2-3, Netscape said, citing the study.

Microsoft Office is used by 22 million people, Microsoft Excel by 30 million and Microsoft Word by 21 million, Netscape said.