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America Online is currently testing several open-source software products to run various parts of its Internet service, a move seen by some as the beginning of a shift away both from Microsoft's Web-browsing software and from Unix servers.

The company, a subsidiary of AOL Time Warner, last week began testing new software to run the Web browser that accompanies its AOL Internet service software, said Jim Whitney, a company spokesperson.

AOL has shipped a test version of its AOL Internet service software that employs technology developed by its Netscape subsidiary and open-source software contributors, without the browser technology formerly provided by AOL rival Microsoft. Subscribers use the AOL Internet service software to connect to the Internet and access the proprietary AOL service.

The browser in the test version of the AOL software is powered by what is known as the Gecko engine. The technology is being tested with the AOL 7.0 client, and takes the place of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser. Gecko is used in the Netscape browser.

"It is technology that we've continued to develop over the past few years," Whitney said.

Invisible to Users

Gecko is also at the core of an open-source Web browser called Mozilla. The Mozilla browser is gaining popularity, and is included in such desktop software packages as Red Hat's Linux operating system distribution. AOL has used the Gecko technology in other products, but not its browser.

It is too early to tell whether AOL is considering making a full-blown switch to the Gecko engine, Whitney said. If it did, the move would bring an end to another aspect of AOL's rocky relationship with Microsoft.

In June, the companies ended a years-long deal in which AOL used Internet Explorer as its default browser in order to have Microsoft place the icon for AOL's Internet service software on the Windows operating system desktop. Netscape has also filed a private antitrust suit against Microsoft, related to the U.S. government's antitrust case against the software maker.

While the switch from Internet Explorer to Gecko would mark a notable point in the relationship between AOL and Microsoft, users would probably not notice a change in AOL's Internet service software, according to Whitney.

"We try to make our technology pretty invisible," he said.

Looking at Linux

In addition, AOL is installing Linux software on its servers, Whitney said.

Most of the servers handling AOL's back-end systems run Unix, which has long been capable of handling the heavy traffic and providing the computing power necessary to manage large corporate computer systems.

AOL's interest in Linux may be due to deal making with Red Hat. In January, reports surfaced that AOL could be in talks to acquire the Linux vendor.

"If a deal were to be struck between Red Hat and AOL, [a service contract] is the most likely form it would take," said Brent Williams, a research analyst with New York investment bank McDonald Investments.

In January, Williams authored a research note titled "RHAT Bought by AOL? Before or After Space Aliens Bear Elvis' Love Child," joining the chorus of executives and analysts who doubted a takeover bid.

Whitney would not comment on whether AOL was entering into a service relationship with Red Hat, but said such a deal is not inconceivable.

"We do relationships of all kinds," he said. "To Red Hat it would be a decent contract."

Last week, Michael Tiemann, Red Hat's chief technology officer, was also tight-lipped about AOL as a possible Red Hat customer. However, the company is announcing fourth quarter earnings on Tuesday, and typically announces major customer wins at such forums.

"If there is anything to announce, that is when we typically report our latest enterprise news and key customers," Tiemann said.

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