Microsoft Unveils IE 7 Beta
Due to the security concerns over its own browser and the growing popularity of Firefox, Microsoft’s IE browser’s market share declined from 95.5% in June 2004 to 84.7% in March 2006. Firefox’s share in March 2006 was 10.05%. Analysts pointed out that Microsoft was keen to stem the decline in its market share and to counter the stiff competition from Firefox. Analyst Gene Munster said, “The big point is that IE’s been losing market share to Mozilla’s Firefox. Now Microsoft is trying to catch up and regain user loyalty from people who have embraced Firefox’s simple and more secure format.” 5Analysts also pointed out that Microsoft’s future domination of the software business was under threat from the renewed enthusiasm for the open source movement and the rise of new Internet companies like Google Inc. (Google). In fact, Google, the world’s most popular search engine, had teamed up with Firefox to announce that it would pay websites US$ 1 for each referred download of the Firefox browser it received through the Google toolbar.
Moreover, Google was the default home page of the Firefox and Opera web browsers. Google had also tied up with Dell Computers (Dell), the world’s leading PC manufacturer, to have its search applications incorporated in Dell’s machines. With the release of the IE 7 Beta 2, the war between Google and Microsoft intensified. Google complained to the US Department of Justice and the European Union that Microsoft’s move to use its own MSN search as the default web browser was ‘anti-competitive’.
In response to these allegations, Microsoft replied that though MSN search was the default option, users were given full control and could easily configure their browser to any search engine. Microsoft further accused Google of having double standards because the Firefox browser had Google as its default home page. Though most analysts felt that Google was unfair in its criticism, the war of words between Microsoft and Google over the IE 7 browser indicated that their rivalry had clearly intensified.
ADDITIONAL READINGS & REFERENCES
1. “IE7”, www.IEBlog.com, February 15, 2005.2. “Microsoft expands browser testing”, www.bbc.co.uk, April 25, 2006.
3. Mu Xuequan, “Microsoft's safer explorer underway”, www.chinaview.cn, April 26, 2005.
4. “Latest version of Internet Explorer ready to go”, www.nbr.co.uz, April 26, 2005.
5. Redmond Washington, “Microsoft to unveil new Internet explorer” ,April 24, 2006.
6. Ina Fried, “Microsoft calls on consumers to test IE 7”, www.zdnet.com,April 24, 2006.
7. Elizabeth Montalbano, “Firefox backers aim to 'destroy'IE with campaign”, www.computerworld.com, April 25, 2006.
8. Robert McMillan, “IE Bug lets hackers phish with google desktop”, www.pcworld.com, December 02, 2005.
9. “Improve the safety of your browsing and e-mail activities”, www.microsoft.com, July 20, 2005.
10. Yuki Noguchi, “Microsoft tries for safer surfing”, www.TechNews.com, April 26, 2006.
11. Steven Bink, “Microsoft releases Internet explorer 7 Beta 2 Preview for Windows XP SP2”, www.bink.nu,January 31, 2006.
12. Stan Beer, “Firefox zealots offer users money to switch from IE”, www.ITWire.com, April 26, 2006.
13. Tom Sanders “Internet explorer 7 beta targets consumers”, www.vnunet.com, April 25, 2006.
14. John Dvorak, “The great Microsoft blunder”, www.abcnews.go.com, April 24, 2006.
15. “Firefox browser takes on Microsoft”, www.bbc.co.uk, November 9, 2004.
16. Rachel Rosmarin, “Firefox revels in IE7 victory” www.Forbes.com, December 19, 2005.
[5] Yuki Noguchi, “Microsoft tries for safer surfing,” www.TechNews.com, April 26, 2006.
