Google has announced that it plans to phase out support for older browsers due to safety and compatibility issues. Users that run Safari 3, IE7, Firefox 3.5 or earlier will start to lose services. Google have also warned that sites and apps like Google Calendar, Gmail, Talk and Docs will eventually be phased out on older browsers.
This Google announcement is part of a string of recent campaigns to get people using modern browsers. Formats such as IE7 and Safari 3 feature inadequate online protection and will cause some sites to load or render incorrectly. Microsoft itself has been running a campaign to get people to switch from older browsers, specifically IE6 and 7.
Web developers and engineers will soon begin utilising new technology such as HTML5 support. This means that people that still use incompatible browsers will soon lose access to new services and updates.
“These new browsers are more than just a modern convenience, they are a necessity for what the future holds,” commented Google vice president Venkat Panchapakesan in a blog post announcing the changes.
Some have noted that browsers such as Opera were not mentioned in the new Google plans. Opera is currently used by around 2% of online users, according to figures compiled by Net Applications, compared to the 11% that are still using the outdated IE6.
“For Web applications to spring even farther ahead of traditional software, our teams need to make use of new capabilities available in modern browsers. Older browsers just don’t have the chops to provide you with the same high-quality experience,” said Mr Panchapakesan.
