US Report: Netscape extends deals with search giants

The deals allow Yahoo!, Lycos, Infoseekand Exciteto remain featured on Netscape's highly trafficked Web site for 30 to 60 more days as negotiations on longer-term contracts continue, said a Netscape spokesperson.

The companies' original contracts were set to expire Thursday. Netscape continues to seek a partner for a planned Netscape-branded search engine, and Web industry-watchers have speculated that the search giants are balking at extending the contracts while that decision remains up in the air.

Asked if any of the parties were digging in their heels, Kramer said she could not comment on details of the contract negotiations.

The current deal calls for the four search engines to take turns as the default Web directory service provider on Netscape's site

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