Google to Launch Own Browser

Google Inc. plans to launch its own Web browser, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The browser, called Google Chrome, will be developed on an open-source platform, and is designed to make it easier and faster to browse the Web, by offering enhanced address-bar features and other elements.

That might seem like an odd move. But browsers have become important business model platforms. Though there might ultimately be other strategic advantages, the immediate emphasis seems to be the linkage between browsers and default search engine use. Browser revenue streams these days often rely on search engine revenue. That is the business model for the free Firefox browser, for example.

And for Google, the ad rates it can charge for search and related advertising are dependent on the scope and frequency of search engine queries.