Google to launch Web browser to compete with Microsoft*

UPDATED SEPT. 2: Read the story about Google's browser from Tuesday's LA Times for analyst reaction and more details about what's at stake.

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Google is releasing its own Web browser to compete with the likes of Internet Explorer and Firefox, trying to dominate not only what people do on the Web but also how they get there.

It’s yet another salvo in the intensifying battle with Microsoft, which recently released a new version of Internet Explorer that makes it easier to block ads from Google and others.

A beta version of Google's browser for Windows, called Google Chrome, will debut Tuesday in more than 100 countries. It will offer features that make it easier and faster to browse the Web. It will also be an open source product, meaning anyone can modify the software code.

The move is considered audacious given Microsoft’s dominance with the Explorer browser. It also could spell trouble for Firefox, a free browser that is gaining in popularity. Mozilla, the nonprofit organization that runs Firefox, has benefited from engineering help and money from Google. Just last week, Google and Mozilla extended their partnership through 2011.

News about the Google browser, rumored for years, broke Monday after the blog Google Blogoscoped reported receiving a comic book from Google outlining the details of the new browser. A Google blog post explained that it inadvertently released the news.

"We believe we can add value for users and, at the same time, help drive innovation on the Web," the post said.

The browser, which Google says was built from scratch, has been in the works for two years. It is intended as a "modern platform for Web pages and applications" that can run faster and be more responsive, according to the post.

-- Jessica Guynn

Comments

[John, San Jose CA]

Huge month coming for Google! Android is on the horizon as well.

http://kreuzer33.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/google-chrome-new-browser-coming-soon/

[Gim Clark]

What is Google ? The next Microsoft.....innovation...maybe....but no longer the key.

Google made a huge fuss about Microsoft IE and monopoly. Now it's going the same way. Firefox is open source...why can't we extend/improve that.....because it doesn't align well with Google's business.

It's not easy to add features into an open-source browser whose release is
controlled by a giant called Google. Open-source IMO is a simple ploy to get
market acceptance.

It would be interesting to see if Google starts getting Chrome bundled with PCs
sold world-wide.

[deaf mutant]

What are you talking about? Becasue Google makes a browser, it's trying to create a monopoly? What a dope.

[stock picks]

I currently use Firefox and I am happy to see Google stick with them until 2011.
I am happy to see and hope that Microsoft will lose market share because they
are too dominant in the computer world. I like that Google's browser will be open
source. The only downside, I have to agree with a previous post, is if Google
bundles their browser, they ARE on their way to becoming a monopoly.

[LinuxGeeksRock]

Good for Google! There's always room for another browser. I personally use SeaMonkey, formerly known as the Mozilla Suite, as my primary browser, but also have about 15 other browsers installed just for the fun of it: Galeon, Flock, Firefox, Opera, Kazehakase, Netscape, Dillo, Konqueror, Lynx, eLinks, and a bunch of others. (I'm on Linux...in case the username I chose doesn't give that away!)

I seriously doubt that Google's new browser will make much impact, as most enlightened users are already using Mozilla-based browsers--and since Mozilla-based browsers are, and have been, at the forefront of innovation, it's unlikely IMO that anything Google comes up with will be much of a big deal. But if it draws more [poor, unfortunate] windoze users off IE, so much the better.

Honestly, I have NO CLUE why anyone uses IE...but that's a whole different topic, isn't it? :)

[Scott Hodson]

Google's browser is not written "from the ground up", it is based on the already-existing WebKit browser, the same browser Apple's Safari on Mac OS X and the iPhone uses.

For more details see:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10029914-2.html?tag=newsLeadStoriesArea.0

[krw]

Excellent.

[Alan Browne]

Those who claim Google are trying to monopolize with this when there are two strong web browsers (one of which has 75% of the Windows browser market) and a bunch of also-rans, don't seem to get that another browser entrant is a healthy thing.

I don't think this will harm IE, however, as much as it will slow the adoption of Firefox.

I agree with those perplexed that anyone would even use IE... but that's another story. As to "Webkit" being the foundation of Safari and Chrome, well, that bodes ill for Chrome doesn't it. Safari is weak in dozens of areas... (Mac version).

[huhwha]

The interesting part about this is... google owns mozilla foundation, the makers of firefox.

[BB]

Here is the real headline: "People who use Chrome could give Google even more information about their online habits."

Google is not free! Better to use a search engine ixquick that protects your privacy.