- Image via CrunchBase
The beta version of Microsoft’s latest Web browser, Internet Explorer 9, has been launched. The new browser has been tipped to take advantage of Windows 7’s high graphic capabilities that will enable it to perform more like smart-phone applications. In addition, by using both the computer’s processor and graphics card, IE9 comes with up-to-date multi-media capabilities to improve the average user’s Web experience with more interactive functionalities.
Microsoft hopes that the new browser, which also uses HTML5, will be more competitive and increase the dwindling dominance of Internet Explorer by Web users especially since the European Commission insisted that the organisation must offer all Windows OS users the freedom to choose a browser of their choice.
It should be noted that since 2003, the organisation has seen a 97% lead in market share reduce around to 60% with Google Chrome, which was launched in December 2008, already commanding over 7.5% of the Web browser market. Other notable competitors include Mozilla Firefox which holds close to 25% of the market share. No date has been set yet for the full release of the IE9 browser.
Current Browser Market Share (according to Net Applications)
- Microsoft Internet Explorer – 60.40%
- Mozilla Firefox – 22.93%
- Google Chrome – 7.52%
- Safari – 5.16%
- Opera – 2.37%
- Opera Mini – 0.88%
- Others – 0.71%
Talking Point
Can Internet Explorer 9 see off competition from other Web browsers such as Chrome and Firefox?