Once dominating over %90 of the entire browser market, IE is critically slipping off of its 10-year reign, dropped down to %67 two years ago, and now to a descending  figure of %49.9  as reported by StatCounter, a web analytics firm. The former Windows-synonymous, and uncomfortably pre-installed, browser is still in use by the majority of users, but at least it’s just short of out-shadowing all of the other browsers combined.

While IE’s share slipping, Chrome and Firefox are simultaneously catching up with their arch-enemy. Nonetheless, after years in the making, Microsoft is retaliating with a soon-to-be-launched IE9, currently receiving rather positive reviews by critiques. IE9’s beta version is certainly handsome from every perspective, but only on machines running on Vista or Windows 7.

Despite the fact Microsoft’s repeating attempts to get the millions of XP users worldwide to upgrade, IE9 has needed a new look and a complete behind-the-scenes makeover for a long while.  A with its current sluggishness, bugs and lack of decent useful add-ons, it’s about time.

One opportunity of growth for regaining a new market is in the mobile sector, where browsing is becoming a necessary feature.  A great deal of developmnt has been placed on mobile browsing, and Google already has a lead on the cross-device browsing sector.  As Microsoft gears up for its Windows Phone 7 release, it’s surely hoping to have an influence on the mobile browsing experience as well.