Is Firefox really the biggest browser in Europe?

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 1 Apr 2009 at 15:47

Mozilla advocates claiming the latest StatCounter markshare study proves Firefox is the biggest browser in Europe need to take a closer look at the figures.

According to the report by StatCounter, Firefox 3 now holds 35% of the European market, edging ahead of Internet Explorer 7 on 34%.

However, closer inspection of the figures reveals that Firefox was helped out by the release of Internet Explorer 8, which ate into its sibling's market share as Microsoft devotees upgraded from one to the other, while Firefox users held firm.

The study reveals Internet Explorer 8 has taken a 2.3% share of the European market since launch, which coupled with the 11% still held by IE6 means Microsoft browsers hold a comfortable overall lead.

Indeed, the Redmond giant has a number of reasons to feel pleased with the figures, not least of which is that people are beginning to transition to its latest browser - often a tricky sell in the past.

Opera is listed as Europe's third most popular browser with 7%, while Safari and Chrome share the bottom bunk with around 3%.

If anything, the figures only serve to throw further doubt onto the EC's assertion that Microsoft's bundling of Internet Explorer with Windows is harming competition, though it's unlikely to alter its position as Microsoft's hearing looms.