Google’s Chrome Internet Browser to Debut on September 2, 2009
September 1, 2008 by Susan Gunelius
Filed under Marketing
The day is finally here. Chrome, Google’s newest brand extension and answer to Microsoft Internet Explorer, will debut in 100 countries tomorrow – September 2, 2009. Here’s how the brand battle is shaking out:
Microsoft hates Google because Google dominates online search and advertising and is getting dangerously close to Microsoft’s territory with its Google Apps and other strategies that Microsoft thinks are too close for comfort. In other words, Microsoft wants Google to lay off of its monopolistic markets. Microsoft dominates 75% of the web browser market.
Google hates Microsoft because Microsoft dominates user apps like Microsoft Office and is getting dangerously close to Google in its attempts to gain search engine traffic and the ad revenue that comes with it. In the recent past, Microsoft tried to buy Yahoo!, tried to develop its own search engine, and tried to make it nearly impossible for Internet Explorer users to download the Google toolbar (which makes Google searches easier). In other words, Google wants Microsoft to lay off its monopolistic markets. Google dominates 66% of the online search market.
The battle wages on and with the introduction of Chrome tomorrow, it shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Who will come out victorious in the end? That remains to be seen. What do you think of this battle?
Are you going to try Chrome? You can get all the info at www.google.com/chrome starting on September 2, 2008! In the meantime, you can check out the Chrome announcement on the Google Blog.
Image: Flickr
Google has done much better branding it’s company than Microsoft. When you think Google, you think easy. When you think Microsoft you think crash. I can’t wait to try the new web browser, although Firefox ain’t THAT bad….
I’ve tried Netscape, Opera, Firefox as an alternative to IEEEEEE and now I’ll have to give Chrome a try. Maybe I’ll finally reach web nirvana.
James, I love the words you chose to describe the Google and Microsoft brands – so true! :)
Scott, I can’t wait to try Chrome, too. I do like Firefox, but it will be nice to try Google’s take on a web browser.
James I think your statement is also a testament to the halo effect Google is able to take advantage of, people expect their program to be good and thus are far more likely to try it in a positive mind frame. :)
I just downloaded Chrome and started using it, and so far so good. It has some useful features, too!
Well, I was able to download Chrome this morning and am using it at this moment. It reminds me a bit of Firefox (no offense there Google…) and it has some of the same difficulties displaying web-based interfaces for some older business applications that were most likely designed with IE in mind.
I’m not knocking Google, just pointing out that Chrome & Firefox probably weren’t around when the developers created these interfaces.