AOL may license Netscape browser

America Online users may soon be able to surf the Net with Netscape Navigator. AOL and Netscape are considering an alliance that would include AOL's licensing of the Navigator browser, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

The report says the move is intended to put both companies in a better position to compete with Microsoft's online activities.

AOL is currently the nation's largest commercial online service with more than 4.5 million subscribers; Netscape Navigator is the browser of choice for 85 percent of the online population.

Although neither company is willing to comment on the report, an announcement is expected within the next two weeks.