Sony And Google Sign Browser Deal

Sony Signs Google Browser Deal

In another challenge to the dominance of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer web browser, Sony announced that it will begin to install the Google Chrome browser on its line of Vaio computers sold in the United States.

“Our decision to carry Chrome is based not only on the browser’s quality and functions, but also on our relationship with Google,” a spokesman for the Japanese electronics conglomerate said.

Google has slowly been making headway into the browser market with the release of Chrome. Subsequent updates to the software have softened initial harsh criticisms and placed Google firmly at third place in the narrow web browser marketplace.

“User response to Google Chrome has been outstanding, and we’re continuing to explore ways to make Chrome accessible to even more people,” Google said.

While not a direct rejection of Microsoft, the move by Sony shows a strengthening of the relationship between itself and Google. This comes as Google continues its push forward with a rival web-based operating system based around Chrome designed specifically to challenge Microsoft Windows.

Despite this latest development, Microsoft still holds two-thirds of the market with Explorer. The next closest rival being Mozilla Firefox.

Google hopes that given a choice of two pre-installed browsers, users will choose Chrome over Explorer. Only time will tell if this will prove a winning strategy that begins a surge which could eventually lead to an alternate operating system.