Doing something similar to what Microsoft did with the Office pack, Google has recently released a developer’s preview of a new and lighter image format called WebP.  It’s capable of decreasing an average of about 39-percent of a picture’s size. This innovative format follows an array of updates (including Page Speed & Speed Tracer browser extensions plus a set of closure tools for RIA development), and is a part of a bigger picture aimed to positively restructure data transfer around Chrome and its other products.

“…we are releasing a developer preview of a new image format, WebP, that promises to significantly reduce the byte size of photos on the web, allowing web sites to load faster than before.”

Using an image compressor based on the VP8 codec and utilizing a light-weight RIFF-based container, this new format can significantly speed up the web as a whole, and even reach all the way to mobile & tablet surfing. In the internet’s current, somewhat sluggish state, even browsers will need to become more available and companionable towards to devices on the go, and WebP is a push in that direction.

Almost characteristic to any industry and sector bracing itself for the holiday season rush, Google’s WebP and particularly these days’ not so very fast mobile internet speed has a direct connection to the shoppers themselves. As specified here, shopping cart abandonment became a full-scale plague among online businesses, especially at this time of the year. The combo of faster, on-the-go internet in the future, and the mobile apps industry’s near booming consumer market could have an affect on things like retail sales and marketing.  Learn more about WebP here.