Sony VAIOs to use Google Chrome by default
updated 02:45 pm EDT, Tue September 1, 2009
Sony VAIOs get Chrome
Sony's PC arm and Google have entered into a partnership that will have the latter's Chrome web browser preloaded onto the former's VAIO netbook PCs. Google is also apparently in talks with other PC makers to make its browser the default in new PCs, in similar fashion to competitor Microsoft and its Internet Explorer browser. Sony PCs with Chrome are already shipping, though Google is saying the deal is thus far experimental. Google is also promoting the browser through TV advertising, a first for the company, and making it available when they download RealPlayer software.
Chrome, which was launched about a year ago, has 30 million active users, which represents just over 2.5 percent of all Internet users. This pales in comparison to Microsoft's Internet Explorer share, which has 68 percent of all Internet users.
Despite the low numbers -- Mozilla's Firefox had 8 percent of all Internet users after its first year -- Google has partly reduced Microsoft's dominance and improved access to its own services. It has also pushed its competitors to develop their browsers further, as Chrome was one of the first to champion absolute speed in web apps and other JavaScript-intensive tasks. [via FT]
