Downloading a Google Application to meet the needs of a customer is secondary in the lives of so many small businesses. It seems we all have joined the ‘App Happy’ generation who can’t get enough of these convenient applications. Google Maps, Google Docs, Google Calendar, Google Mail, Google Talk and now there is Google Chrome. So what is this? According to Google Founder Sergery Brin, Google Chrome is designed as a “fast engine to run web apps”.

While critics say it maybe a little early to download Google Chrome until the security holes and privacy issues are addressed, there is definitely a need for a faster, simpler and more stable browser that is flexible in terms of user interface and capable of handling complex graphics.

Microsoft is the current dominant player in the browser market as Internet Explorer is the choice of over 70% of internet surfers. This is followed by Mozilla’s Firefox with 19% and Apple’s Safari with 6% percent marketshare. When asked to comment on Google’s announcement competitor views were very different.

Dean Hachamovitch, Microsoft’s General Manager for Internet Explorer is quoted in the New York Times as saying: ” It’s not the first or best browser for web applications. Its the first from Google”. He then added that Microsoft is soon to launch its 8th version of Internet Explorer. John Lilly, CEO of Mozilla said that Google’s Chrome will help further define their company’s browser Firefox because internet users will consider alternatives. Firefox is also open source and recently Mozilla released a protoype “Ubiquity” that attempts to make common web tasks quick and easy.

There is no question that lots is happening in the browser world and the latest announcement supports the view that in the next few years the digital lives of computer users won’t be reliant on software but increasingly on applications available over the web. Then the task becomes which “App makes you Happy” ?