AOL buys Netscape.

Michael And, perhaps you've heard it in the news, things are quite chaotic at AOL right now. AOL recently acquired internet pioneer Netscape for ten billion dollars. AOL is mainly based on the East Coast (with 9,000 people) and has only a small branch (100 people) on the West Coast here in San Mateo. The acquired company Netscape is based in Mountain View in Silicon Valley, about 30 kilometers from San Mateo, where about 2,500 people work. With the merger came a major restructuring effort, and the press announced 450 layoffs at Netscape and 450 at AOL.

This is how it happened: Suddenly, it was announced that within two weeks, it would be decided who could stay and who had to leave. On the day of the decision, three days later, the conference rooms, which are usually visible through the surrounding glass walls, were covered with paper, and people were called to meetings. Beforehand, the sad news was delivered to the candidates for dismissal. I was quite shocked to learn that it affected my cubicle neighbor Mike and my colleague Robert --two out of ten engineers were simply let go! Now, the two have been given a transition period of 4 months during which they can look for new jobs, and the severance package with three months' salary is better than usual elsewhere (where you are immediately thrown out), but still, that Wednesday was a tough day.

Eventually, the layoffs from other departments were also announced, and there were many tears, a sad day. Well, the working world in America is tough. Oh, yes, I forgot: The whole thing means that instead of commuting to San Mateo, I will have to go to the office in Mountain View going forward, which takes almost an hour by car instead of half an hour--but I'll survive. The positive side is that Netscape has plenty of real estate, and it is a real internet company from the early days: It is rumored that you're required to have long hair and own a skateboard to work there; there is also a campus with 20 buildings including a garden and pond, a cafeteria, many pool tables, rooms with sofas where you can lounge and think, a concierge to whom you can leave tasks to be done (e.g., "Please buy half a pound of sausage") and much more. Well, I'm curious.

Until the next newsletter!

Your American Adventurers:

Angelika und Michael