Microsoft to Launch Internet Explorer 7.0 By Month’s End

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Microsoft to Launch Internet Explorer 7.0 By Month’s End

7:10 am on October 16, 2006 | Category: Web Services, Software

Microsoft will launch the newest edition of its Internet Explorer web browser “within the next two weeks,” the company revealed at the recent Digital Life conference in New York City.

Internet Explorer 7 will feature a number of security enhancements, including a “protected mode” option to limit the browser’s access to other data stored on the system. Special attention will also be given to the problem of email “phishing” scams, with a built-in filter blocking access to known scam websites.

The new browser will also allow for tabbed browsing, as well as a more easily erasable history file.

By introducing this multitude of new features, Microsoft seems intent on bolstering its share of the browser market, and stemming the tide of users switching to Mozilla Firefox.

Even with its impressive selection of new features, however, Internet Explorer doesn’t offer any major advantage over its open-source competition. Furthermore, Mozilla’s highly active support base of satisfied users, and the ongoing beta of Firefox 2.0, mean that Microsoft will almost certainly be in for a tough ride.

According to the latest numbers, Internet Explorer’s market share has slipped to 82.1%, it’s lowest level in years, while Firefox is now used by 12.5% of internet users, compared to 7.6% in September, 2005.