Google Still On About IE

I know this topic was already covered a short time back, but as I was surfing for news this morning I came across this article from Computerworld. Google is continuing its complaint over Microsoft’s latest version of Internet Explorer. This irks me. Google Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt says, “We want to make sure that the use of the power of Windows is done in a correct and legally appropriate way.”

Here’s the skinny. The latest version of IE will default to MSN Search. So what? Isn’t that the way the current IE browser works? I think so. Google doesn’t like it however. It wants IE to give users the option of setting the default from the new drop down menu to whatever they prefer, before start up. Here’s the thing—most Internet users use Google, and will change it to Google anyway. The only people I know that seem to stick with a default MSN Search are those who don’t understand how to change their settings. No offense to MSN, but I worked in tech support long enough to see this trend, and an immediate example would be over at my parents’ house (sorry mom).

I’m not trying to knock MSN Search here. I know Microsoft is striving to compete and strengthen its search brand. However, although Microsoft may have the edge up on browser software, Google is currently bounds ahead of MSN Search when it comes to market share. Google’s share continues to climb, currently sitting at around 43 percent, while MSN Search runs third behind Yahoo, at about 12 percent. And what about Google’s deal with Mozilla (Netscape)? Last time I checked Mozilla defaults to Google search. Pretty hypocritical don’t you think?

So why is Google so worried? I don’t think they are. I think the search giant is just trying to flap its maw and make some noise, and so far it’s fallen on deaf ears. Google already complained to the US Department of Justice and the European Commission about the new IE. So far the US Department of Justice has dismissed the complaint.

Why doesn’t Google make its own browser? It’s already slapped its brand on a multitude of offshoots —a browser makes perfect sense. Google recently denied its plans to do so.