Google Apps Will Only Support Modern Browsers From August 1

Recently Google announced in its official blog that beginning the 1st of August this year, Google apps will only support modern browsers. This means only the current versions and the immediate predecessors of Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Internet Explorer will be supported. Additionally every time a new version is released, Google will start supporting that update and its immediate predecessor and will stop with the older versions.

This implies since Internet Explorer 9 is out in the market; Google will support IE 9 and IE 8 and will stop supporting IE 7. Similarly from August 1st, they will discontinue support for Firefox 3.5 and Safari 3 and all their predecessors. If any user will be using these old browsers, they will face problems using certain features in Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Talk, Google Docs and Google Sites. And eventually these apps might stop working entirely.

Google said the reason behind this decision is that 'for web applications to spring even farther ahead of traditional software, its teams need to make use of new capabilities available in modern browsers. For example, desktop notifications for Gmail and drag-and-drop file upload in Google Docs require advanced browsers that support HTML5. Older browsers just don't have the chops to provide you with the same high-quality experience.'

Earlier this year, Microsoft came up with a similar drive in the form of the website theie6countdown.com with the sole purpose of watching Internet Explorer 6 usage drop to less than 1% worldwide. The website encouraged its visitors to join the cause by either putting up a banner on their personal website showcasing their support for the campaign, educating others to move on from IE 6 or by telling their friends to support the movement.