Google joins ‘browser wars’

Yup, it’s official. Google has unveiled its new browser as it officially joins the browser wars.

Remember the days when Mozilla launched Netscape and later Microsoft came into the picture with its Internet Explorer? Those were exciting times. Now, we have Google entering the fray.

Why is Google launching its own browser, dubbed Chrome?

“Because we believe we can add value for users and, at the same time, help drive innovation on the web,” writes Sundar Pichai, VP Product Management, and Linus Upson, Engineering Director at Google. Pichai continues:

All of us at Google spend much of our time working inside a browser. We search, chat, email and collaborate in a browser. And in our spare time, we shop, bank, read news and keep in touch with friends — all using a browser. Because we spend so much time online, we began seriously thinking about what kind of browser could exist if we started from scratch and built on the best elements out there. We realized that the web had evolved from mainly simple text pages to rich, interactive applications and that we needed to completely rethink the browser. What we really needed was not just a browser, but also a modern platform for web pages and applications, and that’s what we set out to build.

Just as Microsoft announced updates to its Internet Explorer, Google has come out with what it touts to be a “simple and streamlined” browser that can work on Windows — Microsoft’s domain. Currently, it is only available in the Windows operating system, with Mac and Linux versions following soon.

“This is just the beginning — Google Chrome is far from done. We’re releasing this beta for Windows to start the broader discussion and hear from you as quickly as possible. We’re hard at work building versions for Mac and Linux too, and will continue to make it even faster and more robust,” adds Pichai.

Google runs on Apple Safari web browser technology.

In a report by Agence France-Presse (AFP), it says that Chrome is “Google’s latest weapon in its bid to become the leader in all Internet areas.”

Microsoft won the major browser wars in the 1990s defeating Netscape Navigator.

“According to various estimates, Internet Explorer, which is the default browser on computers with Windows operating systems, is used by between 60 and 80 percent of Internet users around the world, with Mozilla Firefox a long way back in second place,” AFP reported.

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