The browser landscape is continually evolving, as Net Applications revealed via a press release. While Microsoft has made available Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate 1 and Mozilla released Firefox 2.0 Beta 2, the duo are the most representative presences on the global browser market. The metrics released by the Marketshare Site, powered by HitsLink, indicate that IE is continuing its descendant trend while Mozilla has inched forward. In the press release, Net Applications presents the conclusions of the analysis referring to the fragile stability of the market as the "calm before the storm." And by storm, the press release implies the release of the final version of Internet Explorer 7.

"The trends of Firefox and Opera making small gains in month to month market share continued with Opera reaching a new height of 0.64% market share. As reported here, Opera has positioned itself well in the portable devices / phones, and is expected to continue to grow for the foreseeable future," commented Net Applications.

Microsoft is still the dominant player on the browser market with Internet Explorer accounting for a share of 83. 2% in August, down from 83.5% in July. Mozilla hit an all time high with Firefox reaching 11.84%, increasing its market share by 0.5%.