news

February 2010

Pressure to phase out Internet Explorer 6 as IE8 takes market share

A Downing Street petition is calling for the UK government to drop Microsoft's Internet Explorer 6 (IE6) and move to a more modern browser.

The petition says that IE6 has security flaws and uses outdated technology, creating a burden for developers.

The petition comes as the Department of Health advised the NHS to move away from the old browser.

Other government departments - and many firms - still use the software, which was first released in 2001.

"Most creative and software development companies are forced by government department clients to build websites for IE6 when most of the industry has moved on," the petition reads.

"Upgrading would be a massive task for government, but if the public is encouraged to lead the way and the government follows, that would create the momentum needed." A campaign in the US, called ie6nomore, is supported by more than 70 web firms and claims the software is "holding the web back".

'Threat defence'

It is the latest move in a campaign to do away with the old browser, which gained momentum recently when Google revealed that the browser had been the weak link in a cyber attack on the firm.

Google threatened to withdraw from China following the "sophisticated and targeted" attacks, which it said originated in the country. The move prompted the French and German governments to advise their citizens to switch to a different browser - such as Firefox or Google Chrome - until the hole had been closed.

The UK government initially downplayed the threat.

Its view was reinforced by Lord West of Spithead, following a question tabled by Lord Avebury in the House of Lords as to whether the government would encourage public sector users to switch to another web browser.

"There is no evidence that moving from the latest fully patched versions of Internet Explorer to other browsers will make users more secure," said Lord West.

"Regular software patching and updating will help defend against the latest threats."

However, the Department of Health Informatics Directorate has issued a statement saying that NHS computers should be upgraded to IE7 as soon as possible.

Microsoft patched the hole in IE6 in January, three weeks ahead of its normal security updates.

'Holding back'

It is the latest blow to the venerable old browser. In late January, Google said that it would begin to phase out support for IE6.

The firm said from 1 March some of its services, such as Google Docs and Google Sites, would not work "properly" with the browser.

The search giant has said that it will then phase out support for the browser with some of its other services, such as Gmail.

Microsoft has said that it will support the browser until 2014.

New figures suggest that IE6 is beginning to lose market share and is no longer the world's most popular browser.

Piranha Internet says that IE6 has now been overtaken by the latest version of the software, IE8, as the most popular browser in terms of market share.

IE6 now accounts for 20.07% of the browser market compared to IE8's 22.31%.

January 2010

Piranha at Convenience Retail Show 2010

Piranha advertising and Marketing has just been commissioned to provide a full service Exhibition Support and Management service for an international packaging company who is exhibiting at the Convenience Retail Show 2010.

The service to be provided by Piranha will include the design of the exhibition stand including all graphics and product displays, the hire or building of display equipment, furniture specification and the management of all on stand accessories.

In addition, Piranha will be responsible for managing all aspects of the exhibition from organising car parking spaces to complying with health and safety rules, managing all paperwork and promoting the company via press releases, advertising in the show guide, carrying out pre and post exhibition direct mail and booking relevant trade media space in magazines covering the show.

CRS 2010 is held at the NEC in Birmingham and runs from the 21st until the 24th March. The Convenience Retailing Show has gone from strength to strength, with an increase in visitor numbers of 15% in 2009 plus the successful launch of Café+ @ CRS, attracting cafes, sandwich bars and coffee shops. William Reed Business Media will continue to heavily invest in the show with 2010 seeing the launch of the Off Licence Show, targeting off licences and licensed c-stores.

Trade shows are a great place for the market to meet in one place , for retailers and suppliers to negotiate more effectively and saving retailers time by seeing all suppliers in one place. Many suppliers launch innovative new products at the show, giving you profit generating products for your store.

Suppliers and retailers alike agree that this is the top show for the convenience market and a key date in the diary for anyone related to the convenience retail market!