IE7 uptake stalls

[alex]

IE7 uptake stalls

Microsoft's new browser hits the wall at 31%; gets no help from Vista

Within weeks of its October 2006 launch, IE7 accounted for nearly 10% of all browsers used on the Web, reported Aliso Viejo, Calif.-based Net Applications in its latest look at browser use. Over the next three months, IE7 posted month-to-month gains that ranged from 4% to almost 10%, so that by the end of February, it owned 29.1% of the market. Since then, however, it's taken two months to grow another point and a half.

The plateauing of IE7 is both striking and no surprise, said Geoff Johnston, an analyst at rival metrics firm WebSideStory. "In the last three months, IE7's growth has slowed to a trickle."

Even the introduction of Windows Vista, which runs only IE7, hasn't made a difference of late. After a 4% jump in IE7 use from the end of January to the end of February -- Vista was released to consumers on Jan. 30 -- adoption slowed to 0.9% the next month and just 0.6% in March.

[Rubber Duck]

Originally Posted by alex

IE7 uptake stalls

These figures are probably more representative of the US market than anything else, but it would seem that Auto Updates for the US has more or less come to a grinding halt. This might in part be explained by Businesses blocking the update, it might also be down to the generally very slow internet connections in the US, and possibly a lot of out moded platforms. Apart from the Security issue there is little benefit in upgrading and I think for many Firefox is actually a much better option.

Things are likely to be a bit different in the Far East. Platforms are generally newer, internt access is generally a lot quicker and there is a real need for IDN compatible browsers. Even 30% will be more than enough to raise general awareness of IDN, and then people will simply research their own solutions. If they cannot go to IE7 easily they will get to hear about Firefox soon enough. I personally don't think the stall will happen in Japan the way it has in the US. Even businesses are likely to be influenced by the need for IDN support. It is also likely that many fewer have actually installed the block due to the postponement of Automatic Updates.

[rhys]

If it is true then I say it is just crossing the chasm. In the US, you'll probably be getting more lift as the hardware upgrade cycle develops.