Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (IE) dominates the web browser market in terms of users, commanding a market share of over 60%. But there is an increasing trend towards alternatives such as Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. These alternatives, which in according to some measures offer superior technical performance and standards compliance, have gradually been eroding IE’s lead.
In September last year I reported on the struggle that the Goggle Chrome web browser had faced in gaining a market foothold despite superior technical performance, standards compliance and emphasis on Open Source, compared to market leader Internet Explorer. (The original post can be found here). At the time of writing, Sony had recently announced that all Sony branded netbooks would begin shipping with Chrome pre-installed.
Since then Chrome’s market share has more than doubled from 3.17% in Sept 2009 to 7.24% in July 2010. While still a fraction of Internet Explorer’s market position, Chrome has grown almost exponentially since late 2008.
Similarly, IBM’s Bob Sutor recently blogged upon his company’s official shift to the Mozilla Firefox browser. While admitting that many within the company (400,000 employees worldwide) already prefer the browser, he reports that from now on the official policy will see that “all IBM employees will be asked to use it as their default browser”. (Although legitimate as corporate policy, one can question the efficiency of top-down mandating the use of a particular browser rather than merits-based choices by users.)
While IE continues to command a 60% market share, this has been declining. Presented below are market share estimates from December 2007 and July 2010 (source). Within the two and half years between estimates, IE’s market share has fallen almost 20 percentage points (a 24% reduction) of which almost half has accrued to Firefox. This is a significant decrease within a relatively short period of time.


Over a longer timeframe, presented below (source: Wikimedia Commons, user arichnad), we see that within the last 5 years the market has evolved from essentially a single browser with a few fringe players. Despite antitrust authority concerns, the market accordingly shows a healthy degree of competition.

The increased focus on open source and standards–compliant application will in many regards make alternative browsers a reality. This will further spur competition and innovation, improving the user experience.

How should European standardization policy be reformed to enhance efficiency? Should transparency be a key priority or could alternative measures more effectively improve the current European standardization system?
Last month (April 12th), Hewlett-Packard Co (HP)
ICT in general is both a heavy user of energy, and can be a tool to make more efficient use of energy possible. ICT and Energy in this respect are somewhat like symbiotic twins, both need the other to thrive, especially in a perspective of increased demand for energy, depletion of fossil fuel reserves and especially climate change.
The Internet has completed it’s