Microsoft reveals that Internet Explorer has gone into retirement after 27 loyal years

Microsoft has finally made the decision to put the consumer version of Internet Explorer into retirement. This follows the decision made last year to make Internet Explorer 11 the final release. 

This represents a major shift away from a product that made its debut on Windows desktops back in 1995 which led to its dominance in the market when it peaked back in 2004. 

So, what happened after 2004? 

Since 2004, Internet Explorer’s popularity has been severely reduced with the emergence of quicker browsers such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox which have taken advantage of a shift by users to use it to access Google Search and other of their most popular platforms. 

Added to this is the emergence of smartphones that have helped to drive a final nail into the coffin for Internet Explorer as well as these smartphones having Apple’s Safari or Google Chrome pre-installed as the default browser helping to move the internet away from desktops to mobile devices. 

The statistics have helped back this up, as in October 2016, both mobile and tablet internet usage was higher than desktop for the first time ever. With more trouble earlier in 2016 when it was reported that Google Chrome represented over 60% of internet usage globally with both IE and Edge falling behind even Firefox. 

So, what do I do if I want to stay with Microsoft? 

If you decide that you wish to stay with Microsoft, the best thing to do is to download Microsoft Edge which came into the market in 2015 to use alongside Windows 10. 

So, what do I do if I want to still be able to access Internet Explorer? 

It is important to note that Microsoft Edge still has a built-in “IE mode” for use by developers or those still looking to access legacy applications. 

On top of that, Microsoft has also revealed that businesses will be able to use the legacy desktop browser if they are still using legacy versions of Windows such as version 8.1, version 7 Extended Security Updates as well as certain versions of Windows 10. 

Furthermore, even despite its pending retirement, IE’s legacy will live on as it's been the default browser for Windows machines for over 20 years. 

Next Steps? 

If you are a business that is looking to make the move off Internet Explorer or looking for Microsoft 365 related products, need extra IT support or want to start your journey towards a digital transformation then give our team a call today. 

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