Google begins phasing out support for Internet Explorer 6

Google is to begin phasing out support for Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 and other older browsers in line with an industry-wide trend.

The trend is being driven by wider use of web standards such as HTML5 and improved security methods, which are supported only by the latest versions of most browsers.

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"We are also going to begin phasing out our support, starting with Google Docs and Google Sites on March 1st," said Google Apps senior product manager Rajen Sheth in a blog post.

Although users will still be able to access these Google applications with older browsers, newer features may not be available and some features may stop working, Sheth said.

Google said users should replace older browsers with at least Microsoft Internet Explorer 7, Mozilla Firefox 3, Apple Safari 3, Google Chrome 4 or later versions of these browsers.

Internet Explorer 6 is the most popular browser in the world, with a global market share last month of 20.99%, according to web metrics firm NetApplications.

Internet Explorer 8 is a close second with 20.85% global market share in December. In third place, Firefox 3.5 had market share of 16.32%, less than a percentage point more than Internet Explorer 7.