Communicator is the Internet suite from Netscape Communications. You can browse the Web, do e-mail, participate in newsgroups, talk and hear people live, and even build your own Web space. Each application has a distinct function and name.

Communicator began in 1997 as Communicator 4.0 because it followed Netscape 3.0. The look has stayed almost the same throughout the different versions. However, with version 4.06, Netscape added Smart Browsing, and in version 4.5 it made some big changes to Mail and Security and made browsing even smarter. Navigator is the browser component to Communicator. Use it to navigate the Web (surf the Net). Approximately 40% of the people on the Net have Navigator as their browser, and WebCt (our course software) was developed in Navigator.

Where are you? The location toolbar displays the address of the document you are reading. The address is called a URL, or Uniform Resource Locator. You can enter a new URL in this space to take you to new places. When you do that, Navigator flips to Go To. The location toolbar also provides a button for accessing your list of bookmarks of your favorite sites.