Microsoft: Friends don't let friends use Internet Explorer 6

Microsoft has launched a new Web site that is aimed at stepping up its campaign to move users off Internet Explorer (IE) 6.

The new site -- the Internet Explorer 6 Countdown -- went live on March 4. The site "is dedicated to watching Internet Explorer 6 usage drop to less than 1% worldwide, so more websites can choose to drop support for Internet Explorer 6, saving hours of work for web developers," according to the page.

The site includes links to tools for businesses that are stuck with IE 6 because they've developed internal-facing apps that are dependent on Microsoft's 10-year-old, non-standards-compliant browser.Gartner analysts have complained in the past that Microsoft's tools for moving business users off IE 6 are too pricey.

The new IE Countdown site also includes a world map, highlighting which countries around the world still have the most IE 6 installations. (China is No. 1.)

In addition to focusing on the developer side of the "IE 6 must die" message, Microsoft officials also are emphasizing the improved security from which IE users can benefit by switching to IE 8. IE 9 is still in Release Candidate stage and is not mentioned as a comparison point.

Update: Another reason IE 9 is not mentioned -- which I didn't consider earlier -- is that IE 9 won't work with/on Windows XP. I'd wager that a substantial percentage of those stuck with IE 6 are also still using XP, and if those users want to stick with IE, they can only upgrade to IE 8.