Google Takes on Another Microsoft Staple

Microsoft's turf battle was just hit on another flank.

After much speculation, Google has announced it is launching its own web browser, called Chrome.    It will be available for download tomorrow (Tuesday the 2nd) in 100 countries.

With this strike, Google goes after another Microsoft staple.   It has already launched Google Docs, basic word processing and spreadsheet programs meant to snare consumers who balk at buying Microsoft Office.  With Chrome, Google is following in the open-source footsteps of Mozilla's popular Firefox browser.    Google's blog notes that the code to Chrome will be open to developers to "drive web innovation" and create new applications.

Notice that Google takes a friendly tone toward FIrefox.  This is interesting given that Firefox could well be viewed as a competitor toward Google's new browser.   Firefox is currently the alternative of choice to those who want to use something non-Microsoft.   Other web browsers include Apple's Safari and Opera.

This is in stark contrast to the now infamous Microsoft / Netscape battle of old.  It seems long ago that lawsuits had to be filed regarding competition and code for new web products.

Microsoft's Explorer is a serviceable web tool.    But Firefox has been gaining share, and with the word-of-mouth marketing Google seems to have mastered Microsoft has another reason to worry about its core customers and users.   Remember that Google's Gmail email program was only launched back in 2005, but the once Microsoft-like loyalty of the Google masses has propelled it to the number-1 spot for web-based email.

Courtesy: Web Analytics World

If Chrome does to Explorer what Gmail did to Hotmail, Microsoft and its shareholders have another reason to worry.    There are some very smart and dedicated people up in Redmond.   But it remains to be seen if his will be the salvo which gets the Microsoft team innovating again.