Microsoft Wants Internet Explorer 6 Gone for Good

REDMOND, Wash. — Microsoft wants its 10-year-old Internet Explorer 6 (IE6) browser gone for good.

The company reportedly launched a deathwatch today that included a website that shows declining usage and links where corporate IT departments can get advice on how to migrate to newer browsers like IE8 and impending IE9.

Although Microsoft reported statistics from web analytics firm Net Applications that shows IE6 holds onto a 12 percent global usage share, the company said it wants to reduce the aged browser’s share to under 1 percent.

IE6's stronghold is in business, where upgrading can be difficult because of custom Web applications or Intranets designed for the old browser.

In a Microsoft blog, Roger Capriotti, head of IE's marketing wrote, "We bring you the next step in our mission to see IE6 gone for good. To demonstrate our commitment to getting rid of IE6, we're launching a website."

The deathwatch website details Net Applications' usage share numbers for IE6 in 43 countries, including the U.S., China, Japan, Germany and Russia, as well as the browser's current global share.

China leads usage of IE6 at 34.5 percent, followed by South Korea at 24.8 percent, India at 12.3 percent and Taiwan at 10.7 percent. The U.S. accounts for just 2.9 percent.

Microsoft’s wish to kill IE6 is nothing new. A company executive reportedly said in 2009 that "Friends don't let friends use IE6."

Although Microsoft wants users to move to IE8 and IE9, it has not been able to stop users from abandoning its browser line completely and switching to rivals like Google's Chrome and Apple's Safari.

In the last year IE has reportedly lost 4.8 percentage points, dropping to a 56.8 percent share.

At the same time, Chrome has gained 5.3 points, while Safari has increased its share by 1.9 percentage points according to Net Applications.

At this pace IE6 should fall under 1 percent by June 2012.

Microsoft said it will support IE6 until April 2014.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Russian Lawmakers Call for Age Verification

Two Russian lawmakers have called on the country’s government to implement age verification for adult content.

British Documentary Spotlights XBIZ Amsterdam With Candid Conversations

British creator and host Josh Pieters traveled to XBIZ Amsterdam to film a documentary about the annual European adult industry conference.

XBIZ 2026 to Debut 'New Talent Go-See' Special Event

XBIZ 2026, North America’s premier adult industry conference, will debut a special event designed to help new talent jump-start their careers: the New Talent Go-See.

Penthouse Announces Digital Archive Launch

Penthouse Magazine has announced that it will launch a comprehensive digital archive in 2026.

Dreamcam Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

Dreamcam has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches by Country for August, September

AEBN has released the list of popular searches from its straight and gay theaters by country in August and September.

AV in Focus: A Guide to Unlocking Compliance With Clarity

The age verification era isn’t coming — it’s here. Laws are already on the books in numerous U.S. states, as well as in the U.K., France and beyond.

Canadian Privacy Commissioner Endorses National AV Bill

Philippe Dufresne, privacy commissioner of Canada, has voiced support for a bill that would impose fines of up to $500,000 on adult sites that do not implement age verification for Canadian viewers.

Ricky Johnson Launches 'Ricky's Resort' Through YourPaysitePartner

Ricky's Room studio honcho Ricky Johnson has launched his latest site, RickysResort.com, through YourPaysitePartner (YPP).

Industry Attorney Paul Cambria Retires After 50 Years of Practicing Law

After more than a half-century in practice, during which he provided the defense in some of the adult industry's most notable legal cases, attorney Paul Cambria has retired.

Show More