Chrome crowned top Internet browser by market tracker

Wednesday, 4 May 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

AFP: Google Chrome on Monday was crowned the top Internet browser, officially ending the long reign of Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE).

NetMarketShare calculated the Chrome had 41.7% of desktop browser share in April, narrowly topping the 41.4 % share for IE. Mozilla's Firefox browser was third with 9.7%, according to the market tracker.

A second market tracker, StatCounter, had given the title to Chrome four years ago and gave Google's software for browsing the Internet an even bigger lead over IE in April.

A graph posted online at netmarketshare.com showed a Chrome use trend line rising while a line for IE sloped downward.

When it came to using browser software to access the internet from mobile devices, Chrome commanded slightly more than 49% of the market, according to NetMarketShare.

The results came as Google faces regulatory scrutiny, particularly in Europe, over its dominant position in Internet lifestyles and as Microsoft was pursuing a shift to business and cloud computing services.

Microsoft fielded new Edge browser software synched to its latest-generation Windows 10 operating system and incorporating its Cortana virtual assistant capabilities to win users.

Microsoft last month reported a 25% plunge in quarterly profits as the company navigated away from its role as a software seller to a services model.