StatCounter recently reported that Microsoft’s Internet Explorer has fallen below 50% for worldwide usage.  In September it measured at 49.87%, followed by Firefox at 31.5%, Chrome at 11.54%, Safari at 4.42% and Opera at 2.03%. 

Although the public still uses Internet Explorer more than any other browser, the combined market share of non-Microsoft browsers now outpaces IE.  According to CNN, IE’s decline has been steady over the past few years with the European Union forcing Microsoft to allow Windows users to choose a browser during set up of their operating system.  They also attribute the decline to the fact that other browsers have outpaced IE’s innovations causing Firefox, Google, Chrome and Safari to eat away at Microsoft’s market share. 

Although Firefox is IE’s closest competitor, it is actually Google Chrome that has been hurting IE recently.  Chrome has more than tripled its usage over the past year; where it measured at 3.69% in September of 2009 it now measures at 11.54%. 

Two years ago IE dominated the worldwide market with 67%.  With IE 9 [featuring new advances] currently in public test mode, it remains to be seen if Microsoft can keep pace with its improving rivals.