Google drops Firefox in favour of Chrome

Google has stopped pushing Firefox in its download pack in favour of it's own newly-official browser, Chrome.

Mozilla's open source browser is still an option in the Google Pack a set of downloads which include the Google toolbar, desktop and other free software but it is no longer the default, so users will have to pay attention to which box they want ticked. From now on, the default is Google's own Chrome, which came out of beta last week.

In a statement on its blog, the search giant plainly said the move was taken in order to get more people using Chrome. "Adding Chrome to Google Pack means that existing users will be informed about the new software and the new users will install Chrome instead of Firefox."

Last week, Google claimed the shiny new browser had 10 million users. At the moment, Chrome is still just under one per cent of the browser market, according to online researchers Net Applications, while Firefox last month maintained over 20 per cent. Microsoft's Internet Explorer holds about 70 per cent.

Google claimed that some of Mozilla's success is down to its assistance, in fact. "Google contributed significantly to Firefox's popularity by promoting it on the homepage, including the browser in a software bundle and encouraging publishers to promote Firefox," the firm said in a statement.