{Interactive Web Design Blog}

That’s right, you read the title correctly!!!

Google says they will cease to support Internet Explorer 6 for all of their online applications starting March 1st.

Web Professionals are collectively shedding a single tear of joy.  IE 6 is generally excepted as the worst browser in current use.  It is the only browser to ever to have multiple Facebook groups calling for its demise. The wikipedia page for IE 6 describes it like this:

“This version of Internet Explorer is widely derided for its security issues and lack of support for modern web standards, making frequent appearances in “worst tech products of all time” lists, with some publications labeling it as the “least secure software on the planet.” Campaigns have been established in order to encourage users to upgrade to newer versions of Internet Explorer or switch to different browsers, and some websites have dropped support for IE6 entirely.”

If Google is successful in removing IE 6 from use they will have firmly established themselves as rulers of the Internet. This is huge news for two reasons:

One, It is going to cut web development time significantly and, two, it is the first time Google has used its power for evil as opposed to good.

Google is known for sharing knowledge, giving away software, and collaboration. They are not known for their ruthless ability to destroy demand for certain products with a single policy decision.

Why wouldn’t Google want to destroy IE 6?  Just last month Microsoft admitted that it was flaws in IE 6 that made the recent Chinese based security breaches possible.

Furthermore, Google has positioned themselves as a direct competitor to IE 6 ever since they launched Chrome – Google’s in house browser. Currently IE commands 63 percent of the general Internet browsing market and 73 percent of the business market. Leading a boycott against IE not only makes good sense within the world of web development, it is also a smart business move for Google.

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