Netscape Forms Unit For Web-Site Business

Netscape Communications Corp., the struggling Internet software pioneer, Wednesday formed a new division to focus on its Web-site business in a heightened search for ways to make money.

Netscape is trying to increase advertising and transaction revenues from its popular Internet site after seeing revenues plummet from the browser software it pioneered for navigating the World Wide Web.

Netscape was forced to give away its browser to match rival Microsoft Corp.’s offer. An attempt to push corporate software for linking together computer networks also has fallen short.

Netscape is uniting Web-site marketing, product development, sales and operations in its new division, which will be headed by Mike Homer, who had been in charge of sales and marketing at the company.