BUSINESS INFORMATION - Google Inc. has launched a new version of Chrome web browser

BUSINESS INFORMATION - Google Inc. has launched a new version of Chrome web browser and browser version for mainstream Mac users will be available within a few months, as companies moved to double the market share Chrome.

Almost exactly one year after Google's high profile entry into the browser market dominated by Microsoft Corp., Internet search giant is by far the No. 4, with a market share of about 2.8 percent.

For Google, Chrome is more than just a browser, but part of a grand strategy to create a new Web-based operating system that could one day challenge Microsoft's control of the computer software market.

Internet search company is setting up a battery change, along with efforts to form a new distribution partnership is expected to soon make Chrome a much more important players.

"If the two year anniversary we are not at least 5 percent (market share), I would be very disappointed. And if the three year anniversary we are not at 10 percent, I would be very disappointed," Chrome Engineering Director Linus Upson said.

He noted the internal goals even more aggressive than the stock doubled each year.

A much anticipated Mac version of Chrome, currently only available for testing, will be released at the end of the year, Google's product management Sundar Pichai Vice President said recently in an interview with Reuters at the Google headquarters in Mountain View, California.

Version 3.0 of Chrome for the PC, released on Tuesday, bringing improvements to the browser interface, including faster performance and "themes" which allows users to customize how the browser looks.

Analysts say that Chrome focus on performance has won it fans among intelligence technology, but said the company needs to do more as attempts to broaden the product appeal beyond Google's 30 million current users claim.

"For people who care about it (speed), they've made the switch," said Forrester Research analyst Sheri McLeish. "In general, the high hurdles to get people to pick-up and change their technology has been used for a while."

According to market research company Net Applications, Internet Explorer has about 67 percent of the browser market worldwide in August, while the foundation Mozilla Firefox has 23 percent and Apple Inc's Safari browser has been 4 percent.

The fact that Microsoft's Internet Explorer comes pre-installed on Windows PCs is one of the main obstacles faced Chrome, said Gartner analyst Ray Valdes.

Google recently signed an agreement with Sony Corp. to pre-install Chrome on certain Sony PC, so to reach a new pool of potential users. Pichai said that Google is talking with all major PC manufacturers on similar transactions, although he refused to give any details.

While Chrome browser does not contribute any revenue to Google - which generated almost $ 22 billion in revenue last year - products plays an important strategic role in the company.

In addition to Google's oft-quoted credo that anything that can improve the online experience that will ultimately benefit the Internet advertising business, Google also sees Chrome as an important plank in developing online software such as email and word processing, which he called "Apps," or applications. Free software for consumers, but Google sells companies class version.