• by Gavin O'Malley , Staff Writer @mp_gavin, August 1, 2011

Signaling its increasing global status, Google's Chrome just overtook Firefox to become Britain's second-most-popular Web browser. "Three years after launch, Chrome last month captured 22% of UK users and marginally overtook Mozilla's Firefox browser," the Guardian writes, citing new data from Web metrics firm Statcounter.

Statcounter also found that Microsoft's Internet Explorer is losing market share to Chrome, although it remains the most popular browser for UK users with a 45% marketshare.

"As the browser wars continue, while the average computer user is still content with Microsoft's browser, the more experienced user have created something of a battle between the two 'alternative' platforms," writes WebProNews, referring to Firefox and Chrome. 

"Since December 2009, Chrome has been heavily promoted by Google in the UK, starting with billboard and newspaper advertising, and TV campaigns this year -- Google's first ever UK TV campaign," The Register notes.

Meanwhile, stateside, Google Chrome and Apple's Safari Web browsers both gained market share through July, reports eWeek, citing new findings from Net Applications. "The rise of Chrome and Safari appear to be impinging market share for Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox, which both lost points in July," eWeek writes. 

"Net Applications attributed IE's continued tumble to desertions by users running Windows XP," PCWorld notes. "But it's a different story on Windows 7, said Net Applications, noting that when all versions of IE are combined, Microsoft's total share of the Windows 7 market actually increased by two-tenths of a point to 54.8%."

Still, "Chrome has gained steadily for nearly three years, coming from out of nowhere in September 2008 to render Web pages in speedy fashion on Windows PCs and Macs," eWeek adds.