Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. HOMEPAGE

Google Taking Chrome Out Of Beta, May Put It On New PCs (GOOG)

ChromeScreen.pngWe were once worried Google's (GOOG) Chrome would end up abandoned like virtual world Lively or kept alive-but-ignored-and-poorly-executed like "Wikipedia killer" Knol. But this morning we got a good indicator Google is taking its new browser seriously: At a Paris conference, Google VP Marissa Mayer told TechCrunch's Michael Arrington the company is taking Chrome out of "beta."

Mayer says OEM partners (think Dell (DELL), HP (HPQ)) won't consider pre-installing Chrome on new PCs with the "beta" tag attached. (Not that "beta" really means all that much at Google -- the company is notorious for keeping the "beta" label on seemingly mature products for years after they've gone live and have acquired dedicated users. Both Gmail and Google Docs remain technically in "beta.")

Advertisement

This is a good omen for Chrome. Google needs pre-install deals for Chrome to break into the browser market. Pre-installs is how Microsoft (MSFT) broke the back of once-ubiquitous Netscape in the 90s. And with Google already reportedly working with Dell on pre-installs, the groundwork for a Chrome deal is in place.

Now where's Chrome-for-Mac? Google already said it intends a port to Apple's (AAPL) computers-- and if Google is really making a serious play with Chrome, it needs Mac users' mindshare and enthusiasm.

See Also:
Report: Dell Dumping Google For Microsoft Search
Google Considers Buying Chrome Market Share
Another Google Flop? Chrome Downloaders Returning To IE And Firefox

 

On February 28, Axel Springer, Business Insider's parent company, joined 31 other media groups and filed a $2.3 billion suit against Google in Dutch court, alleging losses suffered due to the company's advertising practices.

Google Big Tech
Advertisement
Close icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.

Jump to

  1. Main content
  2. Search
  3. Account