Google is to launch a beta version of a web browser, dubbed Chrome, in 100 countries today as it steps up competition against Microsoft.
Chrome was designed to be stable, fast and secure in a clear challenge to Microsoft's dominant Internet Explorer browser, Google said.
"What we really needed was not just a browser, but also a modern platform for web pages and applications, and that is what we set out to build," according to a posting on The Official Google Blog.
Chrome is based on several open source projects and includes components of Apple's WebKit and Mozilla's FireFox. "In that spirit, we are opening our code open source as well," said Sundar Pichai, vice-president of product management, and Linus Upsom in the blog posting.
Chrome was "far from done" and that is why they are releasing the beta version for windows to "start the broader discussion" and get input from the open source community.
Google said Chrome includes a more powerful JavaScript engine, and for improved security it features isolated tabs.
"By keeping each tab in an isolated sandbox, we were able to prevent one tab crashing another and provide improved protection from rogues sites," said Pichai and Upsom.
Google has also announced the release of Google Video for Business, which is an extension to Google Apps that allows users to share video in a secure corporate environment.
David Mitchell, senior vice-president of IT Research at Ovum, said Google Video for Business is a further sign that Google will become a serious player in the enterprise applications market, especially in categories of application that demand a collaboration or sharing focus.
