Sony laptops with Google’s Chrome
GOOGLE has struck a deal to include its Chrome web browser with Sony computers, the first of its kind for the search giant. The deal could expand the reach of Google’s fledgling browser which lags behind Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox in market share.
Google spokesperson Eitan Bencuya said the deal with Sony would go into effect this summer, but declined to discuss specifics. Google said the company was exploring ways to make Chrome accessible to more people. “We are in the process of testing one such channel with Sony,” it said. The deal with Sony was first reported by the Financial Times.
Sony trails computer giants like Hewlett-Packard Company and Dell in terms of sales, failing to rank in the top five vendors by worldwide shipments in the second quarter, according to research firm IDC. But Mr Bencuya said Google was looking at striking similar deals with other computer makers as well.
Google introduced Chrome in September 2008 and remains a distant number four player in the browser market, with a 2.59 per cent worldwide share in July according to market research firm Net Applications. Microsoft’s Internet Explorer dominates the browser market with 67.7 per cent, followed by Mozilla Firefox with 22.5 per cent and Apple Safari with 4 per cent.