The company is releasing a minor upgrade-IE version 5.2.3-to the OS X browser on Monday. Microsoft plans to keep the existing versions of IE available on its Mac Web site. Overall, Internet Explorer has more than 95 percent of the browser market, according to market researcher WebSideStory, followed by Netscape with somewhere above 3 percent, and all others hovering below 1 percent. Although Apple has worked hard to gain compatibility with the vast majority of sites, it is not clear what the effect will be from the most commonly used browser abandoning the Mac market. Many Web sites are designed to work best or, in some cases, only with Internet Explorer. Microsoft's decision creates a conundrum for Mac users seeking maximum compatibility. An Apple representative was not immediately available for comment. On the Windows side, Microsoft has said that it will stop development of standalone versions of Internet Explorer, instead evolving the browser as part of future updates to the Windows OS.Īpple has released several test versions of Safari, but the final 1.0 version of the browser has not yet appeared. 'Safari is turning into a better answer for (Apple) customers.' 'No IE 6 is planned,' Sommer said in a telephone interview. Sommer said that, with the emergence of Apple's Safari browser, Microsoft felt that customers were better served by using Apple's browser, noting that Microsoft does not have the access to the Macintosh operating system that it would need to compete. Microsoft said Friday that it is halting development of future Macintosh versions of its Internet Explorer browser, citing competition from Apple Computer's Safari browser.Īlthough Microsoft may continue to provide security and performance updates, no major new releases are planned, Microsoft Product Manager Jessica Sommer told CNET.

Ie for mac