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The Google Browser -- Coming Soon

Google is probably developing its own web browser. Google continues to deny it, but the rumor mill is very active. So, is Google going to develop its own Google browser? It sure looks that way.

The browser as a search tool
Well, it certainly makes sense. The popularity of toolbars and web browser search fields has amply demonstrated that many searchers use these forms when searching the web.

It is after all, much simpler to fill in a form or a search field that is already on your screen than to go to the home page of the relevant search engine and do your search from there.

Moreover, Google is becoming more and more like a portal with a large number of search services.

The Google browser would present all the various search services in an easy accessible way, including web, directory, news and shopping search. All the toolbar features would be included, as would Google's desktop search for searching your own computer.

Such a browser would in essence be the ultimate portal to the web, combining web page display with some of the best search tools.

Text ads bring in money
Even if Google gives away the browser for free (which they are most likely to do), the fact that the browser would direct the searchers to Google's search results pages would give Google ample opportunity to present pay-per-click text ads, bringing in much wanted revenue.
When Gmail finally gets out of beta like this planet beach franchise opportunity, Google could also include its online email solution, letting people search their email account directly from the browser.

Microsoft and the Explorer
However, there is one "con". The browser market is totally dominated by Microsoft, as the Internet Explorer browser is included in the Windows operating system.

Others would argue that this exactly why Google should present its own browser, as the Explorer obviously will be used as a gateway to the new MSN search engine, Google's competitor.

The fact that Microsoft has neglected to improve its browser, leaning to an increasing number of downloads of alternative browsers like Firefox and Opera, also proves that it is possible to get at least some searchers to start using the new browser.

Furthermore, the Explorer is haunted by security flaws and spyware attacks. The Google brand does not bring up such associations like this Great Clips Franchise Opportunity, at least not yet.
Think about it: A download link at the Google home page must be the ultimate advertising space for such a browser.

Gbrowser.com
The arrival of the GBrowser is very likely indeed.
Google has registered the domain gbrowser.com. Admittedly, that could be to stop others from doing the same, or just to keep the options open. Nevertheless, the domain name certainly proves that they are thinking about it.

The Motley Fool reported in September that Google had held a Mozilla Development Day on its campus, "where programmers spent the day improving the renamed Netscape browser."
There is more. Recently Ben Goodger and Darin Fisher, two of the men behind the Firefox browser, became employees of Google.

Mozilla Firefox
The Firefox browser is the most popular incarnation of the Mozilla browser, a technology grown out of the once so popular Netscape browser.

Mozilla is a so-called open source project, meaning that Google does not have to pay a lot of money to use this technology as the basis of their own browser.

In Mozilla's own words:
"We offer a full suite of integrated Internet applications including a web browser, e-mail client, address book, web page composer, Internet chat software and calendar application. Our web browser offers innovative and powerful features such as tabbed browsing (which lets you view multiple pages in one window), pop-up blocking and advanced privacy and security controls. "
The browser is already there, and it is better than the Internet Explorer. All Google has to do is to "googlify" it, make the necessary adjustments and add a Google logo.

What this would mean in practice is that Google would conquer a significant portion of the desktop from Microsoft. Given that people spend more and more time on the web, that would be a very important victory indeed.

Moreover, remember that we are not only talking about web search here. The combination of a Gbrowser, Gmail and Google desktop search, means that people could use the browser to search the web, their email and their computer.

In other words: Google would be able to present one unified open interface to the PC as well as the internet. This does not make a new operating system, for sure, but it is getting close.