2.3 million Internet Explorer 9 downloads in first 24 hours

By Tom Warren, on 16th Mar 11 7:36 pm with 11 Comments

Internet Explorer 9 RTM

Microsoft said on Wednesday that Internet Explorer 9 RTW has been downloaded 2.35 million times in the first 24 hours of availability.

Internet Explorer 9 was released to the web on Monday March 14 and has clocked up 27 downloads per second, over 250 downloads every 10 seconds. Microsoft’s Senior Director of Internet Explorer Business and Marketing, Ryan Gavin, announced the figures in a company blog post:

We want to thank everyone around the world for downloading IE9 and the enthusiastic reception. 2.3 million downloads in 24 hours is over double the 1 million downloads we saw of the IE9 Beta and four times that of the IE9 RC over the same time period.

Microsoft revealed earlier this month that users have downloaded 36 million copies of Internet Explorer 9 since its beta release in September. The software maker launched its final development milestone version of Internet Explorer 9 on February 10. Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 9 includes an enhanced UI, HTML5 support, hardware accelerated browsing and some great security improvements. Microsoft has included Tracking Protection in Internet Explorer 9. The new privacy feature allows consumers to address their concerns about being tracked on the web. Internet Explorer 9 offers users a new opt-in mechanism to identify and block many forms of undesired tracking such as cookies, web beacons, advertisements and trackers. Tracking protection involves lists that can be published online. Microsoft’s second security enhancement is the ability to block ActiveX controls. Internet Explorer 9 includes an “ActiveX filter” option. The filter allows users to switch off ActiveX elements within their session, furthering Microsoft’s commitment to security within its browser.

Microsoft’s latest browser includes some great improvements for end users too. Improved tabbing, pinning and HTML5 support will make the web more beautiful claims Microsoft. The software giant has partnered with some big names to show off just what Internet Explorer 9 is capable off and it’s likely that hundreds more will follow in the coming months. Microsoft isn’t stopping at Internet Explorer 9 though. The company plans to bring its improvements to the mobile space. Windows Phone 7 will include a mobile version of IE9 later this year. The company will also ship regular Platform Previews to keep developers ready for the next versions of Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer 9 is just the start.

  • GP007

    It’s worth it, people on IE8 or even other browsers should give it a go. Been working great for me so far since I installed it.

  • Adamvm

    I was right there at the time it was released downloading it. Just like I was the first beta. Far as I’m concerned, every Vista and 7 user should try it. I’ve used every browser and IE 9 is by far my favorite! If you’ve developed a bias against IE over the years, this isn’t the IE you thought you knew. Time to let go of the anti IE mentality. This is a fast, modern, hella fun browser. Pinning sites to the task bar really does give you the feel of using an app.

  • http://twitter.com/geostation geostation

    now if only the devs couldwork on addons :/

    • GP007

      I’m hoping the IE team takes the plunge and redoes the add-on system to somehow support add-ons made using Silverlight etc.

    • Bjorg

      What sort of addons would you want on a browser? The only addon I’ve used for Firefox is Firebug (I’m a web developer) and IE has a much better alternative built-in (hit F12). I honestly have never been to a web site and thought “man, I really wish I had X addon”. Just curious because I can’t think of anything.

    • Anonymous

      maybe an adblocking addon. that’s the primary reason i use firefox. i’m sick of being bombard by ads on every site i visit. 3/4 of the page are ads.

      when sites aren’t populated w/ ads, i use ie9, which i think is pretty awesome, just want the adblocking addon.

  • Fdfdfd

    Was using IE9 since it was a pup. Thought it would improve, but it still is breaking web pages for me. MSFT had it right with IE8; too bad they didn’t just keep the GUI and improve the speed and not break the Net. Staying with IE8 until (or if) they fix it.

    • GP007

      What sites are broken exactly? And maybe it has more to do with those sites thinking IE9 is IE7/8 and tossing out quirks when they shouldn’t? If, and I haven’t seen this yet, a site doesn’t play nice with IE9 just add it to the compatibility list and it’ll run it in IE8 mode, problem solved.

      The rest is up to devs to fix. The IE team didn’t release 7 platform previews just for the heck of it.

    • Anonymous

      I had broken sites going from IE7 to IE8, but nothing so far going from 8 to 9.

  • http://twitter.com/s_a_r_k_i_s sarkis chamelian

    well, I hope IE9 for Windows Phone better be good !! , Also I cant wait for Windows Phone 8 . . . .thats going to be interesting.

  • Rigouh

    I use the IE9. But if a download (>500MB) reaches 99% and “1 second remaining” nothing more happen. The download never finish. Bug?