Like any commodity there is a never ending war among various Internet browser softwares in this stage of globalization where competition is a way of life.
It has become more pronounced as every browser is in the race to become a favorite one for browsing internet. No one benefits by winning this war as all of them are free and similar, until you are a geek. Last week’s launch of latest version of Mozilla firefox 3.5, has further intensified the fight. The first commercial and graphical web browser was developed by the Mosaic programming team and was called Netscape Navigator, later renamed Communicator, then renamed back to just Netscape. The Netscape was on the top, when Microsoft realized the importance of developing its own. Having the distribution power of providing free with the most popular operating software, Windows, Microsoft soon crushed the Netscape with its monopolistic practices. Netscape, not giving up, transformed itself into Mozilla Foundation to produce a competitive browser using the open source software model. But before some real development from it could happen, which happened in 2004, Microsoft enjoyed almost a monopoly in the segment. In 2003 Apple too launched Safari for its operating system, Mac, realizing the unquestionable importance of the internet in coming time. As all monopoly brings complacency, so was for Internet Explorer (IE).
User’s didn’t know what more they could experience until other started bringing new ideas. Microsoft just bought out few minor updates. Others browsers realized that this was the time to take away the market share of IE which had reached the peak of more then 90 percent. By 2004, Firefox had 8 percent of market but by 2009, it succeeded in increasing it to more than 20 percent. Firefox and Opera and safari immensely improved security and other technical features. Google too entered this ar, first by supporting Firefox by technical and monetary resources and then by launching its own browser, Chrome.
Microsoft woke up and tried incorporating features, now the norm, of the industry. But lacking creativity in development its updates merely managed to follow hat others had already achieved and didn’t bring out any path-breaking feature.
Firefox has the second biggest share after IE in browser users, followed by Safari. In the last one year, we have seen an intensification of the war. IE has come out of an update, Firefox in last one year has come out of two updates, 3 and 3.5 version. Chrome has been launched. Opera has come out with its latest version , 9, having the cloud computing feature-Operate Unite server. All this has resulted in IE losing more than 11 percent share since March. Every browser now has good security features, private-browsing options and better protection from malware, leaving the difference in technical race of mere nose.
How does it affect us? Firstly breaking of a monopoly is always good for the market. When IE as the only software available, we didn’t see much improvement, destroying much possible progress. Secondly, the chance of numero uno position will force others to come up with new ideas. Thirdly, no one can dictate the market as now developers are no more at the vagaries of one browser maker. Fourthly, with Firefox, an open source software, most possible next winner, the ecology for developers is good.
The best feature about Firefox is add-ons, which are software codes that can be made by developers according to requirement. The growth of mobile as the medium medium for the surfing Internet has opened another front. It forced Google to launch its open source Android software for mobiles in competition to the smart-phone market capturing iPhone, which uses Safari.
Android in its attempt to be have a fair share in providing its software free to any cellphone maker and various companies has taken that. Microsoft has been beaten here also as its Windows mobile failed to make a big impression. All that can be said about the browsers is that we are going to see more activity over the next few years and IE will lose its dominant position in the market. The only question is how soon?
Regards,
Rusten
Head Social Media Optimization Services - www.theseomarketing.com
