Microsoft unveils latest Internet Explorer

Dubai: Microsoft Gulf yesterday officially launched the latest version of its web browser, Internet Explorer 9 (IE9), in the UAE.

The browser was launched globally on March 14.

IE9 will also be available for Windows Mobile, Microsoft's operating system for smartphones, next month, but there are no plans to move IE9 to non-Windows platform at this time, according to Kerim Kerim Ozbakirci, Mircosoft's product marketing manager for Internet Explorer in Middle East and Africa.

Internet Explorer is the dominant web browser globally, according to statcounter.com, with an estimated 44 per cent market share. Firefox, the second most popular browser, has a 30 per cent market share.

Beta version

The beta version of IE9 saw 40 million downloads between September 15 and March 15.

IE9 is a complete rebuild of the popular software and not just an upgrade from previous versions, according to Ozbakirci.

"We redesigned everything, from the UI [user interface] to engine."

Ozbakirci said the new browser has been designed for fast web browsing, security, a cleaner user interface, and interoperability, which will make it easier for programmers to design websites across multiple platforms.

The new user interface has been made to "melt into the background."

"People care about the site, and not about the web browser. They just want to have the best experience," he said.