Internet Explorer Drops Below 50% Market Share
The web has come a long way since the days when the browser wars consisted of just Netscape and Internet Explorer.
Over the years we've watched Microsoft's Internet Explorer grow, overtaking Netscape to become the world's most popular browser. Then, more recently, we've seen even our less tech savvy friends ditch the Microsoft browser in favor of one of its competitor. Though IE has remained popular in the latter half of this decade, its market share is nowhere near what it was six or seven years ago. September was a particularly grim month for Internet Explorer as data company StatCounter reports that the former king has actually fallen to below 50 percent in the worldwide market.
StatCounter's research arm, StatCounter Global Stats, yesterday released its browser market share rankings for the month of September and, though IE still has more than half of the market share in the U.S., it's fallen below 50 percent in the worldwide market. SC reports that IE now accounts for 49.87 percent of the global browser market in September, while Firefox accounts for 31.5 percent. Meanwhile Chrome's market share has tripled since the same period last year; the Google browser rose from 3.69 percent in September 2009 to 11.54 percent last month.
"This is certainly a milestone in the Internet browser wars," said Aodhan Cullen, CEO of StatCounter. "Just two years ago IE dominated the worldwide market with 67 percent."
Cullen speculates that the reason for the drop in worldwide market share could be because of EU orders that say Microsoft must offer Windows users a choice when it comes to web browsers. Previously Microsoft was allowed to ship all Microsoft computers with Internet Explorer. Indeed IE has fallen a more than six full percentage points in Europe since September 2009. IE's European share currently sits at 40.26 percent, down from 46.44 percent last year.
At home, things are looking slightly better for Internet Explorer. The browser still accounts for 52.3 percent. Firefox comes in second with 27.21 percent while Chrome brings up the rear with 9.87 percent.
Source: StatCounter via Conceivably Tech
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Jane McEntegart is a writer, editor, and marketing communications professional with 17 years of experience in the technology industry. She has written about a wide range of technology topics, including smartphones, tablets, and game consoles. Her articles have been published in Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, MobileSyrup, and Edge Up.
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The worldwide market share numbers aren't that different from the US market share numbers. IE may soon drop below 50% even in America, regardless of the browser being bundled with Windows, depending on how many find IE9 good enough to switch to.Reply
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nforce4max Who still uses this horrible browser? Only noobs and schools along with a few who have no choice I suppose.Reply -
bison88 It was long coming. Microsoft should have known after Windows XP that it could no longer expect to ship a final updated browser ever 2-3 years with an operating system. Back then it wasn't completely necessary as the Internet was still just a baby for the masses but in 10 years the general populace has changed and technology more than ever has advanced while Microsoft sat back on the couch.Reply
Leo and Tom Merritt said it right, somewhere along the lines Microsoft stopped being an innovator and settled down into a catch up business model. IBM did the same and is only now starting to go back to their roots of innovating and reinnovating something I hope Microsoft returns to quickly. -
axe1592 Whats sad is that if you take out all the PC's that are in offices and banks and such and have no choice but to use IE, Id bet you that figure would be more in the 30% range. Even my wife uses Chrome and she cant work our Tivo!!Reply -
Just another show how the user wants something that works fast, is simple, safe, and does the job!Reply
All these advanced browsers with extra feats and gadgets, that are slow as hell, people don't want!
People start using their brains, just like cars, people rather want a normal car that works well, than buying a ferrari with clutch, gearbox, or engine problems. -
eddieroolz I personally don't trust the StatsCounter numbers. They tend to report IE very low and Chrome higher than any other counters.Reply
Either way, IE is the best browser for me. Ever since 9 came out Firefox 4.0 has been uninstalled and SRWare Iron is barely managing to hang on.