Internet Explorer on the Upswing
After more than a year of decline, Internet Explorer’s share of the browser market may be headed upward again. According to Net Applications, IE registered a slight uptick in users during March, its first since early 2011.
IE captured a 53.83 percent share of the worldwide browser market in March, up from 52.84 percent in February. A minuscule gain, but — importantly — one that was won at its rivals’ expense. During the same period, Firefox’s share of the market slipped to 20.55 percent share from 20.92 percent. Meanwhile, Google Chrome’s market share fell to 18.57 percent from 18.90 percent — the third consecutive month it has declined — and Apple’s Safari dropped to 5.07 percent from 5.2 percent.
“With a gain of .99 percent last month and a net gain of 1.2 percent global usage share over the last five months, Internet Explorer has stabilized and even reversed its usage share declines of the last few years,” Net Applications researchers explained.
For IE, which once held well more than 70 percent of the browser market, this turnabout is a welcome trend. Could its slump finally be over?