Microsoft"s Internet Explorer platform is hurting; it is facing stiff competition from Google, Mozilla, and a host of other vendors who want their piece of the consumer pie. While Microsoft has been publicly pushing IE 9, internally, Microsoft knows that if this version of IE doesn"t make waves with the consumers, it will give up the title as the most used platform for browsing the web.
Microsoft has been busy posting new job openings all around the world while it gears up for the IE 9 launch and one recent job opening states:
Beyond setting the agenda for our IE plan for consumers, you will help drive the most important launch of Internet Explorer in the history of Microsoft. You will work closely with your counterparts across the Windows Business group, field and engineering teams to prepare the team for a rapidly approaching worldwide launch.
While no specific date is mentioned in any of the job postings, some did point to an early release in 2011. While there were hints in several postings that IE 9 would come onto the scene in early 2011, at this point it"s still anyone"s guess. Nevertheless, CES, which is taking place in January 2011, could be a key target for Microsoft to promote the new platform to a wide audience, as it is the largest consumer electronics show in the world.