The New York Times reports that Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) will introduce its own browser -- named Chrome -- but will it cost Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) any revenues? Since Microsoft gives away its browser, the answer is no. However, Google's move may force Microsoft to divert resources to upgrade its browser to avoid losing market share.

And Microsoft' still dominates the browser market. The Times reports that Microsoft "still holds 73 percent of the browser market. [Open-source browser] Firefox's [share] has climbed to 19 percent, while Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ: AAPL) Safari has 6 percent." And Google's Chrome introduction marks "a shift for Google, which has strongly backed Firefox."

So why is Google doing this? It could be so that as Google develops applications -- such as search, word processing, spreadsheets, presentation and e-mail programs -- designed to run on browsers for PCs and handheld devices it wants to avoid being so dependent on Microsoft. InfoTech reports that a "new feature in the latest beta of Microsoft IE 8 makes it easier for users to block information about their browsing habits, a move which could hamper Google's interests in display advertising." And while Firefox keeps pressure on Microsoft to upgrade its browser, Google has far more resources to threaten Microsoft's share. So Chrome could divert more Microsoft cash and staff.

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) will offer its own internet browser to compete with Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT) Internet Explorer and the Mozilla Firefox product.

The software may be plagued by the law of unintended consequences, doing more damage to Firefox than to Microsoft. According to The Wall Street Journal, Google says the "software is designed to make it faster to browse the Web and easier to run applications without downloading software to a computer."

Most PCs come loaded with Internet Explorer as part of Microsoft Windows. That leaves Google with the challenge of getting consumers to download its new browser. Firefox is also software which must be downloaded. Google may end up competing more with Firefox, a product it has supported in the past, than with IE.

Most consumers don't care what browser they use as long as they have access to the internet. Microsoft's largest advantage is that it is part of the PC software package that people use without any thought as to how it might be changed.

Google will end up hurting an ally without doing any damage to its primary rival.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

When I read that Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) website didn't officially support the world's second-largest web browser until just recently, I was stunned. The Mozilla Foundation, maker of the super-popular Firefox web browser, now commands about 19% of the global web browser market, behind Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT)'s Internet Explorer web browser.

Yet, many (many) websites I visit (some very high-profile ones) were made for Internet Explorer only. These websites break at various points when using the Firefox web browser, mine, and millions others, favorite.

What are these Fortune 500 companies thinking? If a product has nearly 20% of any market, you darn well better pay attention to it. With more and more time being spent online instead of in front of the TV, website publishers need to recognize the value of supporting more than just the leading web browser. I can easily understand not designing a web experience for products that have lower single-digit market shares, but that's not what we're talking about here.

So, it was with disdain that I recently read that a Bank of America web support representative stating, "Please note Bank of America does not support Firefox." With email, actual workflow applications, multimedia and an entire media consumption empire existing on the web, the challenge for many websites will be to not forget the other large pieces of the pie. Ignore web browsers with growing market share at your peril, I say.

It appears that we are just about a week away from the changing of the guard on the old Browser Wars. If you look on the netscape.aol.com site, you'll see that the old Netscape Browser support will officially end on March 1, 2008. Even the Netscape Blog advises a switch.

Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) has been making many changes at AOL and its properties over the last two years. In fact, Netscape, AOL, Advertising.com, AIM, and just about everything else has changed. Unfortunately, some change also means the death of certain parts, and that part appears to be Netscape.

If you will remember back to the 1990's, this was its own public company with the "NSCP" ticker that had roughly a 90% market share. People even paid for AOL-acquired Netscape when its market share was steadily declining, and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) ended up paying out roughly $750 million in an antitrust settlement over search and bundling. Netscape is still loaded up on many PC's both on its own and via one of those old AOL access dial-up bundle offerings that used to be included with PC's. Now almost no one uses it. I used to use it exclusively, but those days are long gone. What a difference a decade makes.

Even Linux seller Red Hat (NYSE: RHT) paid money at one point for some of Netscape's security software.

Frankly, Mozilla's Firefox has taken the place of Netscape in today's world and it is now almost an equally-yoked rival to Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT) Internet Explorer that has been downloaded onto millions of computers. The business of owning a Web Browser is really nothing more than a project. Sure, there are others like Opera, but most web sites only want to support Explorer and Firefox now. Such is life in a world where free is becoming more and more of an expectation.

Even if it is merely for old times sake, "Farewell, old forgotten friend."

Although AOL has chosen to withdraw continuing development of the Netscape Navigator browser, you'll be able to continue using it indefinitely. Honestly though, who would want to?

Netscape doesn't have much in the way of loyalists in the realm of content suppliers, and web users seem not to care much what browser they use as long as the utility is fast, accurate and simple. I myself switched from Netscape to Firefox during the last year because Navigator was giving me image handling problems and Mozilla Firefox proved to be easier, faster and less burdensome.

Since 1994, Netscape has been a leading-edge web utility. However in recent years, competition from Mozilla Firefox has relentlessly scooped away market share from Netscape and a strong and victorious competitive battle has been waged in the interest of Internet Explorer by Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT). Although Netscape proved to be a strong web utility, in the last few years it lacked any significant improvements in user friendliness. I think that situation is in part due to Microsoft's reluctance to make the Windows operating system play nice with Netscape Navigator. We may take pause to wonder if Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) ever properly applied pressure on Microsoft over the situation ... probably not.

In the big picture, no one is going to miss Netscape Navigator. Yes, some few loyalists might whine for a while and some people with fully loaded hard drives might find their machines maxed out by the downloading of a new browser and the system changes associated with that, but in the end it's all good if it makes the browsing experience faster and easier for the end user. Besides, it might force the sale of some new computers, yes?

Perhaps AOL should just spin off Netscape, take a bit of cash for it and write the rest off. That might be easiest in the long run. When given the fact that AOL will apparently be relegating Netscape to second-tier status, do you really think it'll ever get better?

Stick a fork in it gang, it's done.

This Internet is starting to tighten up a bit and I don't like it. Mostly, I'm a little irritated that moves are being made that seek to pigeonhole our options as content producers and seekers. Call me the consummate conspiracy theoretician if you want to, but I say right at the head of this movement is eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY). The following scenario components may provide special interest to the fanciers of Microsoft Corp.(NASDAQ: MSFT). You may also be interested in these tidbits if you hold a chunk of Google Inc.(NASDAQ: GOOG).

About two months ago the online auction proposition was dumped by Yahoo Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) They gave no real explanation as to why they were doing it. They just closed up shop. Now, they have entered into a joint venture regarding a Yahoo! search tool for eBay. Now that answers some questions, doesn't it.

In a bid to push its new suite of integrated applications and tools, Microsoft is planning its initial deployment of Internet Explorer 7.0 via Microsoft's Automatic Updates Service.

So as to not cause another WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) debacle, whereby downloaded 'Automatic Updates' were functioning beyond the expected scope of users ('dialing' back to Microsoft Servers automatically); IE 7.0 will be designated as a High Priority download, but users will be able to opt-out of downloading the product.

While the opt-out option is certainly a nod to user choice advocates, distribution of IE 7.0 at all via the Automatic Updates channel is in question. Automatic Updates should remain a primary channel for security updates only.

Distribution of a product should be initiated through a product distribution channel, either through standard retail or Microsoft's Download Center.

Of course from a business standpoint, this is a very logical move for Microsoft, taking a play from classic marketing textbooks. Have customers 'opt-out' rather than 'opt-in'. That way, by default you are capturing market share, and only by effort of the end user are you losing market share.

With alternative OS options emerging in lieu of the upcoming Windows Vista (ie. consumer and commercial flavored linux releases) and market penetration of the Macintosh platform, it is imperative that Microsoft hook users onto individual Microsoft applications which through integration with other MS products will synergistically push the Microsoft platform.

In the standalone browser market, IE 7.0 will launch before Firefox 2.0, though Opera 9.0 has launched and has gathered a relatively small but loyal following.