Microsoft has recently joined forces with tech powerhouses in a bid to support the evolution of Chromium-based browsers. The Linux Foundation unveiled “Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers,” an initiative designed to fund and foster the open development of browsers that rely on Chromium. This initiative also aims to upgrade various projects within the Chromium ecosystem. The announcement came from the Linux Foundation this week, with Microsoft echoing the news through a blog post.
This new venture from the Linux Foundation, Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers, intends to create an unbiased environment where the open-source community can work together. While existing Chromium projects will continue under their current frameworks, any new projects initiated by this group will be managed by the Linux Foundation.
Microsoft has teamed up with Google, Meta, and Opera to support this effort.
It’s been a solid six years since Microsoft made waves by choosing to base its Edge browser on Chromium. The reimagined Edge made its debut in July 2020, significantly enhancing web compatibility and syncing updates with popular browsers like Google Chrome. This strategic shift also simplified the task for developers in ensuring Edge compatibility and allowed Chrome extensions to function seamlessly on Microsoft’s browser.
Though the decision to ground Edge in Chromium met with some skepticism, it seems to have paid off. Microsoft’s Edge year-in-review unveiled last month highlighted key achievements for the browser, including:
– 10 billion AI-driven chats using Copilot
– 800 million articles, stories, and updates delivered via MSN
– Over 1.4 billion phishing, malware, and scam threats blocked
– More than 7.3 billion passwords safeguarded monthly
– Over 7 trillion megabytes of PC memory conserved with Sleeping Tabs
– 1.8 trillion trackers thwarted on Edge mobile
– 46 million messages and files exchanged using Drop
– 38 trillion characters translated
Despite its global market share still trailing behind Chrome and Safari, Edge holds steady at around 5%. More significantly, it remains a strong contender in the browser market, continuing its development journey.
“Microsoft is excited to be part of this initiative that will boost collaboration across the Chromium ecosystem,” shared Meghan Perez, VP of Microsoft Edge. “This initiative aligns perfectly with our dedication to the web platform, driving meaningful and positive contributions through collaborative engineering and partnerships with the community to benefit everyone using the web.”
