Netscape's regional sales vice-president set to open Hong Kong and Singapore

Web software giant Netscape Communications is to establish wholly owned subsidiaries in Hong Kong and Singapore within the next month following its opening of an office in Sydney two weeks ago.

But the company's newly appointed Asia-Pacific sales vice-president Quentin Gallivan has not yet decided which office will become Netscape's regional headquarters - a decision he won't make until it becomes more apparent where he spends most of his time.

Mr Gallivan, who joined Netscape in April from GE Information Systems, said the company was growing at such an astronomical rate its worldwide operations were being set up on the fly.

The company has already appointed master distributors in most countries through the region - in Hong Kong appointing Jardine Office Systems.

The company's immediate sales strategy throughout the region is to appoint master distributors, rather than setting up a direct sales presence in each country, Mr Gallivan said.

In Japan, for example, the company has established distribution ties with 14 partners, including NEC and other large conglomerates.

As another example of its partnering plans, Netscape last month signed an agreement with Hongkong Telecom IMS under which Telecom will provide Netscape Navigator to customers subscribing to its Internet product.