Firefox takes almost 30 percent of EU browser market

Firefox continues to take market share away from Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE), according to a recent survey of 32 European countries by Web monitoring company XiTi Monitor.

Microsoft's IE is still the dominant browser, but Mozilla's Firefox continues to take small chunks of its market share on a regular basis.

In July 2006, Firefox accounted for 21.1 percent of the browser market. Exactly one year on, that figure has increased to 27.8 percent, according to the report.

"It's a nice way to get started on a Monday morning," said Tristan Nitot, president of Mozilla Europe. "I hope we continue to gain market share, as our goal is to promote choice. Monopoly leads to lack of innovation."

Although Microsoft still has 66.5 percent of the browser market across Europe, in certain countries Firefox has now become very popular -- especially in Eastern Europe. In Slovenia, Firefox has 47.9 percent of the market, while the browser now has over 39 percent market share in Poland, Hungary, and Croatia.

Nitot said that a major contributory factor for Firefox's success in countries like Slovenia and Poland was the support network that exists in them.

"There's a very active community there -- there's active forum support online. Also, if you have a problem, people from the community will come to your business and fix any potential issues," said Nitot.

Firefox gaining market share should give Microsoft cause for concern, according to Nitot.

"I think it should be a cause for concern for them -- our intention is to encourage Microsoft to get back to work and improve IE," said Nitot. "We want a better Web experience for everybody."

Microsoft should also be concerned about the wider implications of the loss of browser market share as it makes hosted applications a bigger part of its business, said Nitot. Steve Ballmer last week announced Microsoft's intention to move towards Web-based applications.

Nitot said that Microsoft faced a complex situation at the moment, as it tries to redefine itself as a Web services, rather than a software, company.

"Microsoft has recognised that, if it wants to be successful in the future, it should move towards the Web applications space. In the short term this is going to hurt Windows and Office. It's a difficult situation to be in," said Nitot. "Also, how is it going to leverage those assets to be more successful in the Web scene?"

Microsoft had not responded to a request for comment by the time of press.

Tom Espiner reported for ZDNet UK from London