Browser Shares Stable

After a month of availability of Internet Explorer 9 and Firefox 4, it appears that the browser market remains stable.

Internet Explorer is down slightly, dropping 0.81 points to 55.11 percent. Firefox experienced a small drop of 0.17 points, to 21.63 percent. Chrome was up 0.37 points to 11.94 percent, and Safari was up 0.54 points to 7.15 percent.

The implication is that people adopting the latest versions are upgraders, and that little major change has occurred.

Firefox overtakes Internet Explorer in Europe

Firefox overtook Microsoft's Internet Explorer to become the number one browser in Europe in December 2010 according to StatCounter. StatCounter Global Stats reports that in December, Firefox took 38 percent of European market share, compared to IE's 37.5 percent.

'This is the first time that IE has been dethroned from the number one spot in a major territory,' commented Aodhan Cullen, CEO, StatCounter. "This appears to be happening because Google's Chrome is stealing share from Internet Explorer while Firefox is mainly maintaining its existing share," said Cullen.

Google Chrome has grown to 14.6 percent compared to five percent in December 2009.

Firefox overtakes Internet Explorer in Europe in browser wars | StatCounter Global Stats

Chrome Web Store Will Feature Games

The new Google-sponsored Chrome Web Store will feature games, at least initially.

"Chrome to Phone" A Fixed-Mobile Integration Indicator

Google's new "Chrome for Phone" extension is one more way fixed-line applications and services are interworking with mobile apps and services.

"Chrome to Phone" adds a button to a user's Google Chrome browser that instantly sends the current web page, map, YouTube video, or selected phone number or text to that user's Android device running Froyo (Android 2.2).

Chrome to Phone Launches

Google has officially launched "Chrome to Phone" to the public. The extension allows you to push web pages, phone numbers and maps directly from your Chrome browser to your Android phone.

On the roadmap? An update that will provide push capabilities in the other direction, from phone to browser.

download the extension here

All Online Advertising Does Not "Suck"

No, all mobile or Web advertising does not "suck," as Apple CEO Steve Jobs says. But Jobs probably is right about rich media being an easier way to make ads engaging. Good creative helps, too, as shown by this Google spot for Chrome.

Bing Maps Augmented Reality Demo

I admit I use Google Chrome and Firefox more than I use Explorer and Bing. I use Google Maps; I don't use Bing Maps. But that doesn't mean Microsoft engineers are not working on new tweaks to provide more value for Bing and its related apps.

Google Voice Extension for Chrome Browser Now Live

Google Voice now is available as an extension for the Chrome browser. Adding the extension
adds click-to-ccall functionality to Web pages. If there is a phone number on a Web page, or your online address book, it will now have a hyperlink. Click it and Google will open a pop-up window asking which phone you want to use to set up the call, and does.

Google Voice, you will recall, is not an IP telephony or VoIP application n the sense that Skype or Vonage are. Basically, Google uses the Web to set up and complete calls using your existing mobile or fixed connections, adding some interesting call management features.

The extension also adds a small icon in the upper right of the browser. You can type in a name or phone number and call or send a text message from the browser, and read recent text messages and transcribed voicemails (Google automatically transcribes voicemails, usually not all that well).

Many observers think Google ultimately will add softphone functionality, allowing Google Voice to function as an VoIP client.