IE 6 nearly dead, says StatCounter
Internet Explorer 6 may finally be put to rest---unless you happen to work in an enterprise that clings to the antique browser.
According to the latest data from StatCounter, IE 6 usage has fallen to 4.7 percent of the market from 11.5 percent a year ago in the U.S. and Europe.
StatCounter concludes that developers may now safely say they won't support IE6 in the future.
Meanwhile, IE 8 usage increased to 30.5 percent in May from 8.5 percent a year ago. IE 7 accounts for 16.6 percent of the market in the U.S.
As Windows 7 upgrades pick up, IE 6 will continue to go the way of the dinosaur. However, it's unclear whether StatCounter reflects what's going on in the enterprise. Corporations still have IE 6 in the field despite security concerns. If IE 6 were a horror movie it would be like Jason in Friday the 13th---the monster is tired, nearly dead and dangerous, but refuses to go away quietly.
To wit, IE 6 still has some mojo globally and accounts for more than 12 percent of the market. Here's the global view:
More IE 6 fun: