Innovation and New Product Development Case Study

Web Browser Chrome – Google's Challenge to Microsoft?

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Abstract:
Google launched its first web browser, Chrome with advanced features such as speed, privacy etc. Analysts felt that Chrome's launch was to compete with Microsoft's latest version of their web browser, Internet Explorer 8 (IE 8). Even though, both Chrome and IE 8 were equally good in offering privacy features, Chrome was faster than IE 8. However, IE 8 scored better when it came to enabling its users to avoid advertisements. But, the market share of Internet Explorer and other browsers in the market such as Firefox, Opera etc dropped after the launch of Chrome. Ironically, Chrome which garnered 1% market share soon after its launch, lost it later. But it is interesting to note that Chrome's usage was better in the middle of the nights. This proves that though Chrome attracted users, they were forced to use IE 8 since most of the applications and even companies operated on this platform. Moreover, analysts were concerned about the success of Chrome in a market where Microsoft occupied 70% share. Besides, Microsoft was known for its monopoly practices in the past which forced popular web browser of that time, Netscape Navigator out of competition. Would Chrome meet a bitter situation like Netscape or would Google continue its saga of success through Chrome?

Pedagogical Objectives:

• The web browser industry.
• The market share of Internet Explorer and other browsers in the market
• The features of Chrome and IE 8
• Whether Google's success formula would help chalk a winning formula for Chrome
• The counter-moves of Microsoft.

Keywords :  Web browser, Chrome, Google, Microsoft, Internet Explorer 8, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Monopoly, Netscape Navigator, Market shares, Gmail, Search engine, Tab crash, Speed