Firefox finally breaks 10% barrier, says tracking firm

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April 04, 2006 (Computerworld) -- Firefox, the free open-source Web browser from Mozilla Corp., quietly gained enough users in March to finally grab 10% of the Web browser market, according to a report released yesterday by Web audience-measurement firm NetApplications.com.

Firefox was used by 10.05% of Web surfers last month, up from 9.75% in February. That compared with the 84.7% of users on various versions of Microsoft Corp.’s Internet Explorer in March.

In third place, according to Net Applications, with 3.19% was Apple Computer Inc.’s Safari browser, which is used only on Macintosh computers. Aliso Viejo, Calif.-based Net Applications specializes in tracking browser usage at small to midsize companies.

In the past year, Firefox has gained 3.34% share while introducing Version 1.5 of the browser with improved features. Internet Explorer has lost 3.89% as users wait for IE7, which boasts improved features and security and is due out this fall.

“With a strong feature set, aggressive product development cycle, open-source platform and by offering the browser for free, Firefox has the strategy in place to maintain its growth,” Vincent Vizzaccaro, an analyst at Net Applications, wrote in yesterday’s report. But Microsoft “has the much easier task of defending an entrenched position rather than attacking one.”

Netscape was the fourth most-popular Web browser, with 1.05% of the market, followed by Opera with 0.54% and Mozilla with 0.34%.

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