Earlier this month, CNN released an article that shed some light on the frustrations many web designers and developers are dealing with in working with Internet Explorer 6, the outdated Microsoft browser released in 2001. In spite of this, the article mentions that around 15 – 25% of individuals still use IE6 as their internet browser, and according to a recent survey, up to 70% of those users are likely to be corporate users - users that don’t have a choice as to what web browser they use. (To read more about corporate users and IE6, click here.)

Due to the relatively high number of IE6 users, many web designers feel that the old browser is obstructing the ability of the Web to move forward, and have therefore banded together in an effort to drop the browser altogether. Many small companies have launched sites devoted to getting rid of the browser. One such site that has picked up steam is IE 6 No More, which provides developers with a piece of code they can install that will encourage users to download an updated browser version before returning to the site.

As the site states, "… any Web developer will tell you, working with IE 6 is one of the most difficult and frustrating things they have to deal with on a daily basis, taking up a disproportionate amount of their time.”

Despite the troubles with the browser, Microsoft comments that dropping support for IE6 just “isn’t an option” even though the company would like to see IE6 disappear just as much as anyone else. So why doesn’t the company pull the plug? Microsoft made this statement:

“Dropping support for IE6 is not an option because we committed to supporting the IE included with Windows for the lifespan of the product. We keep our commitments. Many people expect what they originally got with their operating system to keep working whatever release cadence particular subsystems have. As engineers, we want people to upgrade to the latest version. We make it as easy as possible for them to upgrade. Ultimately, the choice to upgrade belongs to the person responsible for the PC.”

In other words, it is up to the user. Fortunately, sites like IE 6 No More are spreading awareness and urging web users to upgrade to a new browser. Cool Blue Interactive has witnessed first-hand the frustration and time-consuming nature of IE6 and as anti-ie6 sentiments grow stronger, we continue to support sites like IE 6 No More.

For more information or to view the CNN article, click here. To read more about Microsoft’s stand for IE6, click here.