Microsoft announces Internet Explorer 7

After years of letting its Internet Explorer web browser sit around and rot, because it had no competition, Microsoft today announced that they plan to release a new version of Internet Explorer prior to the next version of Windows (Longhorn).

This is a pretty big departure from Microsoft's SOP of declaring that IE would not be updated until Longhorn, and a blatant admission that they are facing competition in the web browser arena.

As a supporter of Firefox, this announcement brings a tiny bit of vindication, but any feelings of success are easily overridden by a sense that- now more than ever- Firefox needs to PERFORM.

First and foremost, the Firefox development team needs to go on a security blitzkrieg and make sure they keep Firefox squarely ahead of IE in that department. And PR needs to be a big part of this.

Second, they need to continue to enhance the browser- keeping in mind the Firefox mantra of developing an easy, compatible, and powerful browser for the masses. Cool new features that IE will not have are definitely called for, so long as they are done in the Firefox spirit.

The announcement of IE 7 is a big story that contains a lot of intrigue between the lines. I hope Firefox sees it as an even greater challenge, however, as opposed to a sign of victory.