Report: Microsoft to Replace Edge Web Browser

There used to be a time when Microsoft dominated the web browser market with Internet Explorer, but it's a very different picture today. Microsoft is failing to make an impact with the Edge web browser after years of trying, and the rumor is it's set to be replaced.

As Windows Central reports, Microsoft is apparently preparing to end support for the Edge browser and its EdgeHTML rendering engine. Instead, a new web browser will be launched which will be powered by Chromium. Google created and maintains the open source Chromium project and it forms the basis for the company's proprietary Chrome browser. The Opera and Vivaldi browsers also use Chromium.

Although Microsoft has yet to confirm the news, it's unclear how this new browser will be presented to Windows users. It is being referred to internally as Anaheim, but could end up taking the name Edge for continuity on Windows 10. So the EdgeHTML rendering engine will disappear, but the browser name may remain. Alternatively, Microsoft could select a new name and start a fresh marketing campaign to help launch it.

Whatever Microsoft decides to do, they needed to do something. The latest desktop browser market share statistics reveal Chrome enjoys a 72 percent share of the market. Firefox sits at nine percent, Internet Explorer and Safari are at five percent, and Edge is just below that at four percent. When your new browser can't attract more users than the old one it's meant to replace, something is very wrong. Add to that the fact Edge ships as the default browser with Windows 10 and alarm bells should start ringing at Microsoft, and now it looks as though they finally have.

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