Chrome: We're number three

Google's Chrome browser passed Apple's Safari to become the third-most widely used browser, after just 16 months, according to Net Applications, an Internet market research firm. The company did not reveal its methodology.

However, both Chrome and Safari--with 4.63 percent and 4.46 percent respectively--lag far behind number two Firefox, with 24.61 percent, and Goliath-like Internet Explorer, with 62.69 percent. An earlier study dated Nov. 10 found Firefox claimed 25 percent of the market.

In comparison, a year ago, Internet Explorer had 68.15 percent, Firefox had 21.34 percent, Safari had 7.93 percent, Chrome had 1.04 percent and Opera had .71 percent, according to Net Applications. So obviously a lot of Chrome's growth has come at Safari's expense, as well as some from Internet Explorer.

Firefox first exceeded 20 percent in November, 2008. Net Applications said at that time that it has a larger residential share than a corporate share, and that the election--which people followed from home--played a role in its success that month.

To see an up-to-date report on browser market share:
- see this report

Related Articles:
One on One with Google about Chrome
Google releases open-source browser