Google Chrome takes market share from Firefox and IE

Google Chrome has managed to capture at least 5 percent of the browser market share from rivals Internet Explorer and Firefox.

According to NetApplications, the popular browser ended January with a share of 5.2 percent, up 0.6 of a percentage point.

The increase, which was slightly less than Chrome’s recent jump during December, was the browser’s second largest since its release in September 2008.

“Chrome has doubled its share since July 2009,” explained ComputerWorld’s Gregg Keizer.

“IE, meanwhile, lost half a percentage point to end January with a share of 62.2 percent, another record low in a long decline that cost Microsoft’s browser 10 percent of its share in the past year alone.”

Keizer warned that IE was in danger of “slipping” below the 50 percent mark by April, 2011 if it maintained the pace of the last three months. 

However, Keizer emphasized that Mozilla’s Firefox share also declined – by 0.2 of a percentage point to 24.4 percent. 

“Firefox has yet to hit the magic 25 percent mark, having come closest in November 2009 before growth stalled,” added Keizer.