MLM Directory

How do web browsers make profit?

Web browsers aren't used to sell anything. They usually don't push toolbars. And they don't display adds on the software. IE is probably to make people loyal to Windows since people who don't have windows can't use it (who would want to?). And for some reason people who have been using IE for a long time are reluctant to change-- As with most non-techy people. Chrome could be said to lead you to use google search engine more but they give you a choice the first time you open Chrome which search engine you want to use. I suppose it might be trying to wow your pants off and make you want to get an android instead of a competitor phone. But Chrome came out before. Could have been a clever marketing strategy. Safari might work in the same way as IE but it's browser can be used on any OS. I wouldn't think it's the same way for iPhone (as Chrome is to Android) because they didn't seem to have much competition until recently. Firefox is a mystery. Maybe it's just a group of enthusiasts who get generous donations from IBM. Opera- same as Firefox. But I don't think they get very many donations. Anyone know the answers?!

Public Comments

1. Browsers are designed to deliver the content you seek, along with advertisements (ads) from companies willing to pay for their advertising to reach as many 'eyeballs' as possible. Even if you don't look directly at the ad, subliminal interest is activated. Because of this, when I am seeking information, I conciously tell myself to pay no attention to anything that flashes, animates, plays a jingle or changes colors.
2. You make some very sweeping statements and generalizations. "IE is probably to make people loyal to Windows" - Windows would probably still be popular without IE, it's been in competition with Apple and Linux for over 25 years, Apple and Linux can still only account for around 10% of the OS user base between them. "Maybe it's just a group of enthusiasts who get generous donations from IBM" - The finances of the Mozilla Foundation is well documented. They spend $50 million annually. Opera's finances are also well documented, they are a public company so they have to be. You can find their 2010 financial report here - http://media.opera.com/media/finance/2010/annual-report.pdf Firefox gets most of its money from Google for using them as the default search engine - http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2009/11/mozilla-reports-786-million-in-revenue-for-2008.ars Google wants more people to use Chrome because Google itself, apart from the search engine, is little more than an advertising agency. So wherever they can get you to use their software, the more chance they have of displaying their ads. Opera gets it's money by being paid to incorporate it into various devices. Opera is actually an offshoot of a giant Norwegian telecoms company, Telenor. They also get money from, you guessed it, Google - http://www.opera.com/press/faq/ Guess where at least part of Safari's revenue come from? Here's a clue, look at where the other browsers get their money from. Safari is of course also backed by Apple who may have developed the Windows version of their browser just to stick a knife into Microsoft - http://www.pcworld.com/article/132981/safari_for_windows_all_about_the_money.html So far as I know Microsoft do not do deals with other browser developers.