Microsoft preps auto IE8 update amidst dramatic usage share decline

As IE8’s adoption rates lag far behind initial expectations, Microsoft prepares its most powerful tool to push the browser out to user computers. The company said that it is preparing an Automatic Update/Windows Update targeting IE6 and IE7 users, which make currently make up about 93% of the IE user base. The update will be published in the third week of April. And we wonder: Can it slow the rapid decline of IE market share?

Microsoft has been carefully rolling out IE8 that requires most users to actively request the download of the software. Last week, the company began offering automatic updates to users who were running  pre-release versions of IE8 (Beta 2 or Release Candidate 1) of the software and IE6 and IE7 users will see this automatic update appear this week, Microsoft confirmed in a blog post.

According to Net Applications, IE8 has been gaining market share, but on a pace that is behind expectations. If Net Applications is right, IE8 hit a record 4.36% yesterday, but may fall back into the 4.0% range today as more people are using other browsers such as IE6 at work