Microsoft is Killing the Internet Explorer Brand

In 1995, the web browser which we all have known to love (and hate) was born. For all its errors, flaws, bugs and imperfections, Internet Explorer has to be thanked for many innovations that make the current web browsers what they are today. It is with mixed emotions that when Microsoft’s head of marketing announced this week that their new browser, code-named Project Spartan, will be given a fresh look and not have the Internet Explorer badge. Chris Capossela was quoted as saying: “We’re now researching what the new brand, or the new name, for our browser should be.”

In 1996, Bill Gates decided to bundle Internet Explorer with the Windows operating system. With that move, Netscape Navigator was killed off and for the next decade or so, Microsoft dominated the browser market. 

Apparently Microsoft announced that Internet Explorer accounted for 95% of all browser usage 15 years ago. It was also the same time that that likes of Apple and Google were gathering massive momentum with their browsers and slowly began to chip away at IE.

The data on browser use shows that, the once-dominant Internet Explorer now only accounts for around 13 -20% of web sessions, with a similar figures for Mozilla’s Firefox. The big player in the browser wars is Google Chrome, which accounts for 41-60% of all browsing.

Internet Explorer has been slated by many for its security flaws that have required so far too many updates. It has been said by IT experts that the fault lies with the parent company, in that they have failed to take notice of the demands of a mobile consuming environment. Mobile use now accounts for a large percentage of content viewed online. Google has been very successful in using their efficient browser as the mean to gain access to a growing collection of additional cloud-based services; such as office suites and digital photography.

We will have to wait and see just how far Microsoft move away form the IE brand name and its toxic reputation. Who knows, maybe they will keep Spartan (doubtful)?

[Image via ma.ttias.be]

SOURCE: The Independent