Netscape Navigator
is the browser of choice among enterprise users, beating out rival Microsoft’s Internet Explorer by 20
percent, according to a new study released today by Zona Research Inc.
Of the 113 businesses polled, 60 percent of the respondents indicated
Netscape’s Navigator is the preferred primary browser, while 40 percent
favored Microsoft’s IE. A third-party browser was not indicated by any of
those queried for the first time in the study’s two-year history.
Netscape’s Navigator and Communicator products have retained leader
positions among browsers in the enterprise arena, gaining six percentage
points since the previous browser study conducted in July.
“We believe that the rise in share of Netscape’s browser can be attributed
to Navigator being made available at no cost earlier this year and that
users continue to find Netscape to be a viable option,”
said Clay Ryder, vice president and chief analyst of Zona
Research.
Although IE usage dipped slightly, the study reported that IE kept its
dominant position within the corporate browser segment due to company
policies. Sixty-three percent mandated employees use a specific browser. Of
those specifying a browser, 54 percent said Microsoft’s Internet Explorer was
the standard while 46 percent designated Netscape’s Navigator or
Communicator.
“Corporate browser policies continue to greatly impact browser usage within
the enterprise, and we see from this study that 84% of IE in use as the
primary browser is policy driven,” said Ryder.
Zona Research’s browser study among enterprises during the past two years
shows the changing market:
Date Navigator IE Other October 1998 60% 40% 0% July 1998 54% 45% 1% September 1997 62% 36% 2% January 1997 70% 28% 2% August 1996 83% 8% 9% April 1996 87% 4% 9% February 1996 74% 3% 23% January 1996 71% 2% 27% | Date | Navigator | IE | Other | October 1998 | 60% | 40% | 0% | July 1998 | 54% | 45% | 1% | September 1997 | 62% | 36% | 2% | January 1997 | 70% | 28% | 2% | August 1996 | 83% | 8% | 9% | April 1996 | 87% | 4% | 9% | February 1996 | 74% | 3% | 23% | January 1996 | 71% | 2% | 27% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Navigator | IE | Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 1998 | 60% | 40% | 0% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| July 1998 | 54% | 45% | 1% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 1997 | 62% | 36% | 2% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 1997 | 70% | 28% | 2% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 1996 | 83% | 8% | 9% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| April 1996 | 87% | 4% | 9% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| February 1996 | 74% | 3% | 23% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 1996 | 71% | 2% | 27% |
For more information about the study, visit the research
section of the Zona site.