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Although it contains essentially the same base code as version 4.0, Communicator 4.5 has been updated to support corporate users. It boasts a modernized messenger client, better centralized management, improved access for mobile users and enhanced Web surfing techniques that are tied to Netscape's portal site, Netcenter.

I tested an early beta version of Netscape Communicator 4.5 in one of Network Computing's Real-World Labs® at the University of Wisconsin, and can vouch that it's worth the upgrade. As a mobile user, I appreciated the option to store my preferences on a centralized server and leverage them from any site. Netscape plans to add more remote functionality in version 5.0 (for more information, see www. mozilla.org, Communicator's open development Web site).

Improved Messenger Communicator's Messenger includes mail filters, IMAP and POP support, and a new interface that's very similar to Microsoft Corp.'s Outlook98 and is well-integrated with Navigator. A three-pane view fosters easy access to folders, messages and message contents. It's easy to switch between folders and newsgroups.

With Messenger's support for IMAP, you can download only the message headers, while keeping the body of the message on the server until needed. In addition, Messenger maintains attachments on the IMAP server. This dramatically reduces your access time, especially if your connection is slow: Attachments are downloaded and opened only when you view them.

With the product's support for shared IMAP folders, you can easily exchange e-mail messages with your co-workers by posting messages. You no longer have to forward or "cc" messages to several people every time an interesting message arrives.

Also, support for simple MAPI has been added, so you can e-mail documents from within Microsoft Office applications directly through Messenger.

Client Management I truly appreciated Communicator's central management of Netscape clients from the Netscape Console. Part of Mission Control Desktop 4.5 (available separately), the Console works with a directory server--an LDAP server, for instance--to create global configuration files for all Communicator clients on the network. It preconfigures all Communicator clients with a common setup, minimizing support. Mission Control Desktop also distributes updates of Communicator to the desktop, an administrative time-saver.

Another attractive feature for corporate users is Messenger's Pinpoint addressing. With Pinpoint, Messenger searches your personal address books, as well as a corporatewide LDAP server, to find the correct addressee for your mail. You can extend the search to the Internet via lookups against Netscape's Netcenter, sparing you the hassle of remembering cumbersome e-mail addresses.

The new message-template feature lets users create templates for frequently used formats. I saved my weekly work plan as a template, and every Monday I click on my plan's template, fill in the details and e-mail it to those who need to see it.

On the Road If you're a traveler, you'll like Communicator 4.5's Roaming Access feature, which lets you access messaging and browsing information when you're off-site. Configuration information is stored on an HTTP server or an LDAP directory server instead of the desktop. This lets you reach the information from any client. While testing this feature, I was able to download relevant information to my client within minutes. I had access to the settings while sitting in an airport, as well as when shuttling between campuses.

Although I did not perform in-depth tests on the Java Virtual Machine that ships with the new Navigator, I tested many of the demo applets for Java Development Kit 1.1 on Sun Microsystems' Web site (java.sun.com/ applets/jdk/1.1/index.html), and they all worked properly. Netscape says that Communicator 5.0 will offer improved Java and JavaScript performance. The JVM's improvements are of more interest to developers than end users. They include support for JavaScript Unicode (an international character set used by NT); SSL (Secure Socket Layer) API for applets; Abstract Windowing Toolkit (AWT) 1.1.5, which fixes several bugs and provides for optimized array initialization; and printing for applets.

Finally, version 4.5 offers NetWatch, which adds support for a Web-site rating system to Navigator using RSACi (The Recreational Software Advisory Council rating system for the Internet). RSACi assigns its ratings based on the answers to questionnaires filled out by Webmasters. Netscape can then block access to certain sites based on these ratings.

Ahmad Abualsamid is a senior partner with Internet Corp. of Chicago. Send comments on this article to him at ahmad@execpc.com.