Data shows Netscape browser usage down to just 3.4%

IDG News Service - New data on worldwide usage of Web browser software shows Netscape is once again being clobbered by rival browser Internet Explorer and now has an estimated market share of 3.4%, according to a statement from Internet researcher WebSideStory Inc.
That is a steep decline from the 13% share held by Netscape at the same time last year, said Geoff Johnston, vice president of product marketing at StatMarket, WebSideStory's Web site design and software developer service. Rival browser Internet Explorer, owned by Microsoft Corp., holds an estimated 96% of the market, up from 87% a year ago, according to WebSideStory in San Diego.
The Netscape browser, owned by AOL Time Warner Inc., had held steady with an estimated 13% market share during the 14-month period leading to the release of Explorer 6 about a year ago.
Prior to that release, it appeared that Netscape had found its "resistance point," Johnston said. But effective and aggressive marketing on the part of Microsoft, Explorer's availability with Windows and the failure of new versions of Netscape to win over users helped Explorer grab an even larger share of former Netscape users, he said.
"Something snapped over the last 12 months. Where there was this sort of stable balance before, now it has completely spiraled down for Netscape," Johnston said.
Explorer 6 started stealing market share from Netscape soon after it was launched and had pushed Netscape's share down to 7% by late March, according to WebSideStory (see story).
WebSideStory's figures were compiled independently, based on a random daily sample of 20 million visitors to thousands of Web sites that use its HitBox visitor analysis service. According to data compiled Monday, 3.4% of the visitors were using a Netscape browser, 96% were using Explorer and less than 1% were using the Opera browser from Opera Software ASA. The sample shows some fluctuation from day to day. But during the past several weeks, Netscape usage hasn't been higher than 4%, Johnston said.
Despite the bleak figures for Netscape, it still holds a usage share of more than 7% among Web users in Switzerland. And in Germany, Canada and the U.S., its market share is more than the 3.4% global market share estimate.
"There are pockets of resistance in certain countries, but unless AOL makes a move soon, Netscape may find itself battling Opera for the last 1% to 2% of the market," Johnston said.
Netscape announced a preview release of its Netscape 7.0 Web browser in May (see story). AOL Time Warner also has said itis considering dropping Explorer from its America Online Inc. Internet service in favor of technology developed by its Netscape Communications Corp. subsidiary and open-source software contributors.