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Will Microsoft Lose The Browser Wars?
© Jim Edwards - All Rights reserved
http://www.thenetreporter.com
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Until recently, software giant, Microsoft's Internet
Explorer Web browser enjoyed a relatively unchallenged
position as the most popular Web browser in the world.
Despite lawsuits and charges of unfair competition from the
likes of Netscape and others, Microsoft dominates browser
software with over 90% market share.
Microsoft's dominance of the browser market stems mainly
from the simple fact that the majority of computers get
delivered with Microsoft Windows as the default operating
system.
Internet Explorer (IE) comes standard with all Windows
software and, thus, virtually everyone automatically gets
the IE browser.
By default, Microsoft owns the browser market because they
catch consumers early, get them conditioned to using the IE
software, and, until recently, no other software offered a
compelling enough reason to switch.
However, with a seemingly endless rash of security problems,
consumers started looking elsewhere for alternative Web
browser options.
This consumer demand may well spell the end of Microsoft's
dominance in the browser marketplace.
In response to severe security vulnerabilities, several
alternative Web browsers recently gained significant market
share.
** Opera.com **
One of the original "alternative" browsers, "Opera" offers a
significant number of interesting tweaks over Internet
Explorer, including the ability to open more than one html
page within the browser, as opposed to one page per window
with IE.
The free version of Opera carries advertising messages, but
for $39 you can turn off the advertising and unlock
additional features.
** Mozilla.com **
Mozilla actually offers two choices for alternative Web
browsing. Mozilla 1.7, the current version of the original
Mozilla software, includes an email program, newsgroup
reader, and even a chat feature.
Mozilla also offers a newer browser called "Firefox" that
has many people raving about enhanced features. Both
browsers come free of charge and do not appear to carry any
third party advertising.
** Netscape.com **
Netscape, one of the original Web browsers, still offers its
browser software free, though you must do some searching on
their site to find it.
Scroll to the bottom and click "Download Latest Netscape
Browser."
Based on their site, Netscape seems to be in the middle of
an identity crisis since they look more like Yahoo! than a
software provider.
** An 800 lb. Gorilla on the horizon? **
Online search engine powerhouse, Google, has never shied
away from taking on Microsoft.
In fact, they've done something Microsoft couldn't do,
namely turn a profit with a search engine.
Based on past behavior, how long do you think it will take
Google to release a Web browser of their own?
Despite statements to the contrary, I believe Google will
come out with their own Web browser within the next 18
months.
Look at their Hotmail.com alternative, Gmail, at
http://gmail.Google.com.
Google gave away so much storage space they forced Hotmail
to make major concessions in their free service.
Google Desktop blows away the Microsoft search utility for
your PC.
Don't for a second think Google doesn't have a browser in
development and a strategy to release it (for free) if they
can cut Microsoft off at the knees.
--
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the
co-author of an amazing new ebook that will teach you how
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