Google launches open source web browser to compete with Internet Explorer and Firefox.

The browsers are designed to be fast, and to address the next generation of web applications that rely on graphics and multimedia. Called Chrome, which launched as a beta for Windows machines in 100 countries, with versions for Mac and Linux.

According to blog post of Google's Sundar Pichai, "We realized... we needed to completely rethink the browser."

The new browser will help Google take advantage of developments it is pushing online in Web applications that are challenging traditional desktop programs. Google has a suite of web applications, such as Documents, Picasa and cards that offer functionality that is beginning to replace offline software.

Mr. Pichai, VP Product Management said that, "What we really needed was not just a browser, but also a modern platform for web pages and applications, and that's what we set out to build."