According to statmarket.com (statmarket.com/SM?c=stat080599)
on Aug-1999 around 91 % of the users of 114,000 web sites used
version 4 or better of Explorer or Netscape. It also says that
usage of version 3 browsers was down 60 % (to 6.68 % between
IE and NS) from Jan-1999. If you extrapolate the trend, usage of
version 3 browsers should be now (May-2000) below 3 %, which
is consistent with what we see on our web server logs. By the
end of the year users of version 3 browsers should have dropped
to the 1 % levels.
It seems to me that holding off Web Messaging functionality
to be compatible with 3 % of the visitors is not a wise use of
development time. The 3 % of the users with version 3 browsers
can still use the email program that comes with their browser
(Netscape Mail, Internet Mail) so it is not like they are losing
their email functionality. If those users need to access mail from
other locations, it is likely (given those stats) that the other
loations will have a more modern browser.
If we really wanted to get support all possible customers, then
besides version 3 browsers Ipswitch would also need to consider
WebTV, Lynx (text mode) and WAP (wireless phones). It really
gets to a point of diminishing returns. How many off-the-shelf
web messaging solutions really support all possible platforms ?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2000 11:10 PM
Subject: Re: [IMail Forum] Version 3 browser Web Messaging Templates
Maintaining browser compatibility is a very important issue. Look through
your stats, alot of users still use 2.x and 3.x generation browsers.
Cutting out a good percentage f your users due to your lack of support is a
foolish thing to do. I agree, people should keep their browsers up to date.
But, if someone isn't on the "bleeding edge", they should still be able to
use your services.
Jonathan
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