Google Chrome overtakes Internet Explorer

Google Chrome has finally overtaken Microsoft's Internet Explorer as the most popular Web browser, according to web metrics firm Statcounter.

The firm's figures for the top five browsers in the past year show a steady increase for Chrome in contrast with steady declines for IE and Firefox.

Chrome’s usage overtook IE’s for the first week ever, with Firefox, Safari and Opera completing the top five respectively.

Statcounter's breakdown of browser usage during May puts Chrome and IE almost neck-and-neck at around 33% for the month, according to US reports.

But if Chrome continues upwards on its present trajectory, May will be the first month during which the Google-owned browser is in top spot.

Analysts say extensions are a key part of Chrome's appeal, with the latest additions including a scheduler for Google+.

But according to Statcounter, Microsoft could fight back to regain top position with latest version of IE (9) making progress, particularly among users of non-enterprise computers.