Mobile Computing News

Photo: Google

As Microsoft rolled out its browser selection, Google has released a version of Chrome that auto-translates foreign language websites as well as launching a major advertising campaign in the UK.

More than just speed

Google Chrome, which is widely revered as being the fastest browser on the planet, with only Opera able to dispute that claim, has been able to gain a 5% market share in a little over a year through creative advertising by Google, which included prompts on Google and Gmail to download the web browser.

Now, with an update to the latest Chrome on PC, Google has integrated its translation service into the browser, meaning websites foreign to users will be translated to the user’s language of choice, Google could cement itself in markets where website languages has always been a thorn in the user’s side.

The advertising giant advertises

Photo: Google

In uncharacteristic form, the company, which reinvented online advertising, is investing in old school print and outdoor advertising. Giant billboards with a huge Google Chrome logo have been seen across the UK, as well as Google’s purchase of a full-page article in a widely circulated UK daily.

This newfound gravitas towards advertising has seen Google splash out money at the hugest American advertising event, which happens to be a $3 million 30 second slot at the Super Bowl (of American football). Though this particular commercial was not for Google Chrome, but rather for Google Search, it did show a side to Google unseen before – a willingness to invest in a medium many people thought it would completely take over.

Extensions and promises

Photo:Apple

Google is beginning to roll out extensions on Mac, too, which will give the browser even more value. Extensions are the equivalent of Firefox’s add-ons, which allows developers to programme small web-apps that run within the browser, which, if used frequently by Internet users, lock those users in to that browser. Much of Firefox’s success is attributable to add-ons, and Google hopes extensions plus the Microsoft browser ballad plus its advertising campaign will give it valuable market share in the browser wars.