Firefox loses ground to IE

[subvertman]

Firefox's market share slipped last month for the first time since the alternative browser began its battle to offer a popular alternative to Microsoft's ubiqitous Internet Explorer software. This consistent growth suffered a set-back when Firefox fell back from 8.71 per cent market share in June to 8.07 per cent in July, acording to web analytics firm NetApplications. Over the same period Microsoft's share rose from 86.56 per cent in June to 87.2 per cent in July, so Firefox's loss was Microsoft's gain.

NetApplications mentions Mozilla decision to launch a commercial arm in explaining why some might have gone back to using IE. Other theories could include an end to the "honeymoon factor" and recent security problems tarnishing Firefox's image as a more secure alternative to IE. NetApplications' stats comes from a survey of 40,000 customers of NetApplications Web site montoring service.

Monthly browser share figures, from NetApplications

• Microsoft Internet Explorer - 87.2 per cent
• FireFox - 8.07 per cent
• Safari - 2.13 per cent
• Netscape - 1.50 per cent
• Opera - 0.49 per cent
• Mozilla - 0.5 2per cent
• Other - 0.09 per cent

[Nathan]

My website statistics follow this post.

Unknown
18.23% 115

Opera 8.0
0.16% 1

Netscape 8.0.2
0.16% 1

Netscape 7.2
0.32% 2

Netscape
1.90% 12
MS Internet Explorer 7.0
0.16% 1

MS Internet Explorer 7.0
0.16% 1

MS Internet Explorer 6.0
18.86% 119

Mozilla Firefox 1.0.6
30.90% 195

Mozilla Firefox 1.0.5
14.58% 92

Mozilla Firefox 1.0.4
9.03% 57

Mozilla Firefox 1.0.3
0.63% 4

Mozilla Firefox 1.0.2
1.58% 10

Mozilla Firefox 1.0.1
0.48% 3

Mozilla Firefox 1.0
0.48% 3

Mozilla Firefox 0.9.3
0.16% 1

Mozilla Firefox 0.8.0
0.16% 1

Mozilla Firefox 0.10.1
0.16% 1

Mozilla 5.0
0.79% 5

Mozilla 4.0
1.11% 7

[Akkarin]

Probably would be a bit more, readable Dewayne without the different Firefox versions.

Firefox shouldn't be put down by this I think, since M$ released they're IE7 Betas or whatever, more people have been testing it maybe?
Plus there are people that are a bit illiterate in the world of computers who just use what software comes with there PC and that usually is IE, unless they have somin like AOL or Netscape as a ISP.

I wonder if FF is ever going to get almost level with IE. It would probably be if IE was proved very unreliable. Even more than it is already.

[MicrotechXP]

YAY Go Ie. Pretty soon IE 7 will come out and it will take back all the shares. Thanks for the update.

[subvertman]

Could this be because of the IE7 Beta? Although it is a loss, it seems like a small loss

[flankerdin]

Maybe,,, but IE7 will make people keep on using it...

[chaganlal1]

To me IE isnt really gaining ground but firefox is just behind in the amount of shares. But as always there is a HUGE gap between IE and Firefox but in a few months that might chance. I still believe one day firefox will be windows default browser

[LotGD]

IE??? No is SE??? SE=Spyware Explorer >) bwahahahaha

[Wai_Wai]

If IE 7 non-beta (final) is released, there may be fewer reasons to persuade IE people into Firefox.
IE 7 has tabbed browsing and also other features, supposed to be safer, can browser (nearly) 100% without problems, and after all, it's Microsoft (which iss advantageous due to its position in the market).

So if IE 7 is released finally, I may expect a drop in Firefox. Although not most Firefox users will leave, there will be some of them. I may expect a drop of 3-4% if the situation goes worse.

It's time for Firefox to do something, or IE 7 is going to take back its lost shares.
Is it a dream to break through 10% for Firefox in near future?

PS: the above is my personal idea only. I may be wrong. No need to take it seriously.

[Wai_Wai]

Could this be because of the IE7 Beta? Although it is a loss, it seems like a small loss

I think so.
I don't think the news of Mozilla decision to become commercial doesn't really hurt. Right now, our Firefox is still safe :P (We don't need to see ads; we don't need to pay for it) Otherwise, I will expect a dramatic drop in market shares (maybe 0.5- % only).