Browsers Compete to Meet Consumer Needs, Like Seraching, Shopping for Auto Insurance, and Interfacing with Wed-Based Applications

The browser wars have been going on since 1996 when Window’s Internet Explorer and Netscape faced off. Internet Explore has held the top spot for browsers in part to its connection with Microsoft. After releasing Windows XP, Microsoft left Internet Explorer on hold, which allowed Google to corner a portion of the market with its Chrome browser. As of August 2010, Chrome held seven percent of the market. Firefox also continued to upgrade and make improvements, resulting in it cornering 23 percent of the market. As Internet Explorer reaches its 15th birthday, Microsoft is working on a new browsing version.

A person’s browser choice is one of the components of using the Internet that depends on the features available for completing online goals. Some people want to use Internet Explorer because they are familiar with the browser and its functions. They know exactly how to search and buy auto insurance and other products online without trying to figure out the functions of a new browser. Others prefer Chrome and are looking forward to PCs coming with the browser loaded as the default option.

For now, Microsoft holds 60 percent of the market. The company may see the number increase if it releases Internet Explorer 9 in 2010 or 2011. The new version of the browser will add support for HTML5, incorporate a faster engine for JavaScript, and accelerate the loading time for texts and graphics. The company hasn’t set a final release date, but a beta version may come out in September 2010.

As browser companies gear up for the release, Google is already increasing its marketing efforts for Chrome. It points to the ability of the browser to tap into other Google applications. With Chrome, a person can get a basic computer and use web-based applications and tools to bring the machine up to a competitive level.