Under The Willow Tree

In its short lifespan since its launch, Google’s Chrome is already starting to have an impact on the internet and the webapps landscape. As I mentioned in an earlier post, SaaS developers and cloud computing enthusiasts would be the greatest beneficiaries of Chrome’s quantum leap improvements in browser technology.

Indeed, the whole idea behind a blazing fast Javascript engine is not about the speed of the browser, it’s about providing a powerful platform to execute web apps. This idea was captured quite succintly by Brendan Eich, creator of Javascript:

Speed, after all, is not an end to itself. The reason browser performance, especially JavaScript performance, is important is because it allows developers to create Web applications to rival traditional desktop programs in speed and sophistication. “The more browser makers who take performance to the next level, the likelier people will build Web apps that can replace desktop apps,” said Eich.

NetSuite, a SaaS ERP provider, has already declared that its software runs best and fastest on Google Chrome. NetTime has also declared support for Chrome:

“A company called NETtime Solutions, which provides on-demand time and attendance services, says its SaaS is “100% certified” for use on Chrome. Internal tests show full compatibility, and 12% rendering improvements over Internet Explorer and 23% speed improvements over Firefox, NETtime said in a press release.” 

Also, EnterpriseWizard, according to InformationWeek, has similarly declared its latest CRM release supports Chrome. I expect these SaaS development companies are just the first among many more SaaS developers to declare their software compatibility with Chrome.

While some analysts and pundits might play down the press statements by these companies as simply ‘capitalising on Chrome’s hype,’ I think it’s more a case of these SaaS developers recognising that Chrome is the first browser to be designed with them in mind – it only makes sense to take most advantage of the platform that allows your applications to run fastest and smoothest, in order to provide the best solutions to your customers. On top of that, Chrome is the first and only browser to receive such attention from the developer community – nobody remembers Firefox or IE receiving the same attention from these developers, right?

The fact is, Chrome gives web developers lots of room to play. With its multi-process architecture, blazing fast Javasript engine, and sandboxing features, it’s really a mini web-OS, and much, much more than just a web browser. It’s really no wonder at all that SaaS developers love it. As a point in case, listen to Salesforce.com’s VP of developer marketing@InformationWeek:

“I’m very excited by what I’ve seen,” he said. “All this new innovation and technology.” 

Salesforce.com is “looking at Chrome like everyone else.” 

“As we are increasingly dependent on Web apps, how business users use Web browsers changes,” Gross said. “It speaks to a world not about Web sites you visit once, but apps like Salesforce or Gmail that you live in all day, every day.”

In any case, just to give the sceptics food for thought, Chrome has already grabbed at least 1% of the browser market share. And I think Chrome’s adoption in time to come is going to surprise many. As I mentioned, this 1% is really not 1% of the browser market. It’s really 90% of the webapps market. And this market is going to grow fast a furious in the days ahead.

More on SaaS and Chrome: ComputerWorld ; InformationWeek

This entry was posted on Monday, September 8th, 2008 at 4:40 PM and is filed under Technology.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.