Microsoft and AOL are buddies again. Does this mean that AOL can dump Netscape/Mozilla? Maybe. AOL might be getting a free browser for seven years but that doesn't mean they still shouldn't hedge their bets with their own browser -- especially one that's gaining in popularity. I think AOL will hold onto Netscape/Mozilla.

That said, if AOL did sell Netscape full-time Mozilla contributors (I think it's safe to assume they exist) would come with the deal. Red Hat (which recently switched to Mozilla as the default browser) would be a good candidate to buy Netscape/Mozilla to keep the project going at a good pace. But it's good to know that even if Netscape dies Mozilla will live on!

The guys that should be scared are the people at Nullsoft, which was bought by AOL in 1999. Unless they can implement the DRM Microsoft will be using in their forthcoming music download service, AOL users will have no choice but to use Windows Media Player. Then Winamp becomes expendible.

Come to think of it, does AOL even use Winamp? I wonder what value Nullsoft adds to AOL's bottom line. The old Time Warner execs might be thinking the same thing.

Update May 30 03:55 Speak of the devil: Roy points out that a second (after GNUtella) Peer-to-Peer program called Waste has been released by Nullsoft only to be quickly yanked (presumably) by AOL/Time Warner officials.

Update May 30 17:44 A News.com article answers the "is Nullsoft useful to AOL/TW?" question. They may be useful but are they worth the hassle?