Microsoft Starts Beta Testing Internet Explorer 9 Web Browser

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) today said it will start letting people test its new Windows Internet Explorer 9 Web browser, as the company looks to augment to popularity of its Windows 7 operating system it unveiled last year.

The company announced Beta testing of Explorer 9 at San Francisco's Beauty of the Web event Wednesday, and will let people download the explorer off the event's site.

Microsoft is looking to strengthen its position as the world's largest software maker by improving its operating systems and Web browsers. The company boosted income for its most recently completed quarter by 45% after increasing revenue 22% from a year earlier.

Microsoft said the new browser was redesigned with uses like social-media usage and video streaming in mind. The company worked with companies such as Facebook, Red Bull, Twitter and the Wall Street Journal at developing certain features within the browser.