
Yesterday the word was out that google will be launching a
new web browser today, called Chrome. It will also be open source, like Firefox.
Why are they doing it? the official explanation is:
Because we believe we can add value for users and, at the same time, help drive innovation on the web. All of us at Google spend much of our time working inside a browser. We search, chat, email and collaborate in a browser. And in our spare time, we shop, bank, read news and keep in touch with friends -- all using a browser. Because we spend so much time online, we began seriously thinking about what kind of browser could exist if we started from scratch and built on the best elements out there. We realized that the web had evolved from mainly simple text pages to rich, interactive applications and that we needed to completely rethink the browser. What we really needed was not just a browser, but also a modern platform for web pages and applications, and that's what we set out to build.
If being google, I can imagine that they would have tons of ideas that they would like to see in a browser. While you are supporting other browsers, you may as well put your own browser out as well.
Here's how it will look by default

Leaning on open source model with such a huge userbase combined with kazilillions of developers and companies that already rely on Google as their "host" for ads, email, document, images, videos, etc. etc. It will take no time to get this thing flying.
Whos's to loose?This will be specially hard for Microsoft, that I expect to be the biggest looser in browser world (among other things). They are the only one from the "main players" where their business model for market share is not based on "pure choise". What I mean with this, is that their browser is "default" in majority of computers today (sure Apple does that as well, but with much smaller marketshare in computers).
So if we look at the choice options today, that sector is been dominated by Firefox. Now there will be one notable new player in the cloud (if you will).
If we look at the "Mobile and Internet" scene as a whole, we can clearly see that the
battle is heating between Apple, Microsoft, Google and Nokia. (
See what the app store has started...)
I think that the biggest losers overall in this joint M&I (Mobile and Internet) game, will be Microsoft & Nokia, since they both (as organizations as a whole) lack innovation and speed of implementation. Google and Apple have both and they also have genuine loyalty from their users (based on choice). Nokia and Microsoft are playing the "big market share" game, trying to bully around.
How would you split their market shares in M&I sector, 5 years from now?
UPDATE:
Google Chrome will be available to
download noon PST today.