Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT) Internet Explorer (IE) browser posted a gain in global usage last month, reversing a trend of declining market share to key rivals Mozilla Firefox and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Chrome. According to statistics from Net Applications, July would in fact be the second month in a row in which IE posted gains. In addition, the analytics company also released figures that showed the increasing market share of Windows 7.

Microsoft's Ryan Gavin wrote about the figures in a blog post, noting that: "Most interesting is the fact that Internet Explorer 8 continues to be the fastest growing browser with a 0.98 percent increase worldwide in July--and now represents more than 30 percent of browser usage worldwide."

One possibility might have been how Microsoft has been heavily promoting its browser, though the strong sales of its Windows 7 is also a likely candidate. Ultimately, the story that the figures tell is a simple one: It will take a lot more time before the massive momentum gained by Microsoft can be abated. With the impending release of the vastly improved IE9, it is probably far too early to write Microsoft out of the browser race.

For more on this story:
- check out this article at ChannelWeb
- check out this article at CNET News
- check out this article at Ars Technica 

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