Netscape outlines strong-encryption plans for Internet software

Netscape Communications Corp. plans to export this year international versions of its Internet software that would include strong encryption technologies for the first time.

The first stage of the three-part plan--shipment of international versions of the Communicator client and SuiteSpot servers with 56-bit encryption--has been approved by the United States Commerce Department, Netscape officials announced yesterday.

The software will be ready to ship within two or three months, Netscape officials said. Previous versions of Netscape's software have been limited to 40-bit encryption keys.

Shipment of the 56-bit versions is contingent upon Netscape following through on plans to incorporate "key recovery" features into Communicator, a technology that the government requires for export. Netscape has two years to implement the key recovery features in its products.

The second phase of the plan is to get government approval for U.S. multinational or financial companies to use 128-bit versions of Communicator, SuiteSpot and their upgrades, code-named Mercury and Apollo, respectively.

The government does not restrict encryption levels in software if the product is going to be used by domestic firms for overseas communication or for transmitting financial information.

Mercury and Apollo are due by the end of this year or early next year.

The third part of the plan will entail Netscape getting approval for international corporations to use the 128-bit versions of the clients and servers.