Google’s Chrome continued to outpace the growth of its browser rivals in April by growing its market share by 0.6 percent, according to the latest data from Net Applications. Chrome has been the fastest growing alternative to Internet Explorer over the past twelve months, during which it has increased its market share nearly 5 points to 6.7 percent.
By contrast, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer saw its market share slide to a new twelve-month low of 59.95 percent in April, according to the web metrics firm. Moreover, market growth for Firefox during the same period is only up slightly from the browser’s 23.84 percent market share in April 2009.
“After a year-and-a-half on the market, Google finally took Chrome to the people, delivering a marketing onslaught in Europe to coincide with the new browser menu,” said Forrester Research Analyst Sheri McLeish in a blog. “It seems to be paying off.”
Making Noise
Google Chrome’s growth is showing some of the consistency previously seen in Firefox until Chrome’s arrival, noted Vince Vizzaccaro, an executive vice president at Net Applications.
“As far as the reasons for the growth, I don’t know if people are using Chrome because of a noticeable difference in technology from IE, Firefox or Safari,” Vizzaccaro said. “But, I do notice that Google has been advertising Chrome heavily for the last few months online, on TV, and in print.”
Microsoft, Apple and Google all have the means to run widespread ad campaigns for their respective browsers, but Google is the up and coming challenger, and they are the only browser Vizzaccaro sees investing in advertising at this time.
“It appears the campaign is working for now,” Vizzaccaro said. “I’m intrigued to see if Chrome can start grabbing share from Firefox or make a dent on Mac OS, and what that will drive as…