Google ditches Internet Explorer 6

The browser war is great in many ways. Unfortunately it also brings different interpretations of standards and compatibility problems. At the same time the development moves forward and new functions are introduced. Google has now announced that it will no longer support Microsoft’s stone-age Internet Explorer 6.0 browser following March. When Google adds new functions to Google Docs and Google Sites IE6 users will be forced to upgrade or switch browser, which is long overdue anyway.

During the development of our new site we have run into many limitations with older browsers and IE6 will be limiting your experience. Unfortunately the differences between updated browsers are still enough to make you want to tear your hair, and some of you may still experience oddities with our beta site, but we can hope you bear with us and use an updated browser, preferably not Internet Explorer.

Many other companies have already stopped supporting older browsers like Internet Explorer 6.0 as well as browsers that are not supported by their own manufacturers. We’re also going to begin phasing out our support, starting with Google Docs and Google Sites. As a result you may find that from March 1 key functionality within these products — as well as new Docs and Sites features — won’t work properly in older browsers.

The development moves on and when the world’s largest search engine tells you that IE6 will no longer be supported you should take it as a sign that it is time to upgrade, no matter what.