Safari gamble triples market share

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 2 May 2008 at 13:36

Apple's controversial decision to install Safari using the iTunes installer looks to have paid off, with reports suggesting the browser has tripled its market share.

According to Net Applications' figures, Safari 3.1 took a 0.21% share of the market in its first month, up from the 0.07% of version 3, released a year earlier.

Apple was heavily criticised for its decision to use the iTunes updater to install Safari, with Mozilla boss John Lilly claiming it "bordered on Malware distribution practices."

Apple subsequently adjusted the installer to make it clearer that Safari was a separate application, though Mozilla still demanded it the Safari install box be unchecked to avoid confusion.