Internet guru launches new Web browser

SAN FRANCISCO — The Web has changed a lot since Marc Andreessen revolutionized the Internet with the introduction of his Netscape browser in the mid-1990s. That's why he's betting people are ready to try a different Web-surfing technique on a new browser called RockMelt.
The browser, available for the first time today, is built on the premise that most online activity today revolves around socializing on Facebook, searching on Google, tweeting on Twitter and monitoring a handful of favorite websites. It tries to minimize the need to roam from one website to the next by corralling all vital information and favorite services in panes and drop-down windows.

"This is a chance for us to build a browser all over again," Andreessen said. "These are all things we would have done (at Netscape) if we had known how people were going to use the Web."

Andreessen didn't develop the RockMelt browser the way he did Netscape, whose early popularity waned as Microsoft Corp. bundled its Internet Explorer browser with the Windows operating system.

RockMelt is the handiwork of Tim Howes and Eric Vishria, who formerly worked with Andreessen. But Andreessen's seal of approval has been stamped on the startup.

The biggest chunk of RockMelt's $10 million in funding has come from the venture capital firm that Andreessen runs with his partner, Ben Horowitz. Andreessen also sits on RockMelt's board.

Facebook connection

Facebook's imprint also is all over RockMelt, although the two companies' only business connection so far is Andreessen. He also serves on Facebook's board.

RockMelt works only if you have a Facebook account. That restriction still gives RockMelt plenty of room to grow, given Facebook has more than 500 million users.

After a Facebook user logs on to RockMelt with Facebook account information, the person's Facebook profile picture is planted in the browser's left-hand corner, and a list of favorite friends can be displayed in the left-hand pane. There's also a built-in tool for posting updates in a pop-up box.

The features extend beyond Facebook and Twitter. RockMelt includes a tool that shows results from Google searches in a drop-down box, while the browser's right-hand pane is reserved for listing favorite websites.

RockMelt stores each user's preferences on a remote server, making them available on any computer that has the browser installed on its hard drive.

RockMelt is starting with a modest goal: It hopes to attract 1 million users as it extends invitations to people interested in trying the browser. Requests can be made through www.rockmelt.com.

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